Information Minister, Melhem Riachy, said on Wednesday that Al-Jadid TV was safe and sound, and promised everlasting freedom of media in Lebanon.
“The events that took place yesterday are behind us. Al-Jadid TV enjoys the full right to freely express its opinion. On the other hand, people have the right to protest, but they don’t enjoy the right to pelt the TV station, not even with a flower,” the Minister said.
Angry demonstrators attempted yesterday to attack the headquarters of Al-Jadid TV channel in protest of a skit that they believe insulted Imam Musa Sadr.
Around 300 protesters, some carrying the flags of the Amal Movement, gathered outside Al-Jadeed TV headquarters in Beirut’s Wata Msaitbeh neighborhood, as the Lebanese Army deployed heavily to prevent them from storming into the building.
The repercussions of this dispute are in the hands of the general prosecution and the Minister of Justice for pertinent follow up, the Minister confirmed, adding that both sides were very cooperative and responded positively to his attempts to end yesterday’s brawl.
