About IFEX:

News by region:

IFEX Campaigns and Advocacy:

IFEX Email Products:

Opportunities and assistance:

Alert

Protester assaulted, journalist harassed during peaceful demonstration

(SKeyes/IFEX) - Wael Ladki was attacked, receiving blows to his chest, ears and eyes, while participating in a protest against the sectarian system in Lebanon. The incident took place in Byblos city on 27 March 2011. Journalist Nadine Ali was abused during the same protest.

Ladki, who is a photographer, told SKeyes that he participated in the protest by holding a sign on which he had written, "I don't like hunting or its weapon". He was attacked and beaten by 15 men from the Union of Lebanese Democratic Youth. Ladki said: "they didn't even say anything, they saw the sign and started beating me up." He continued: "I have their pictures and I'm searching for their names now."

Ladki submitted a complaint to the Byblos police department together with a report from the medical examiner, and stressed that the complaint will be followed up.

Ali, who works for Now Lebanon, told SKEYES that while she was covering the protest a man approached her and asked if he could take her notes and read them. Ali noted that the man pressured her to change her report and instead reflect his viewpoint on the story.