A general view shows a street hosting banks and financial institutions, known as Banks street, in Beirut Central District, Lebanon June 2, 2017. Reuters

Beirut - Youssef Diab

A judicial sentence against journalist Fidaa Itani has raised fears over repression of media figures and restrictions on freedom of the press in Lebanon.

Baabda judge Nadine Najem on Friday sentenced Itani for defaming caretaker Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil on social media.

He was sentenced to four months with a fine of LL10 million ($6,550) to compensate for alleged damages.

Asharq Al-Awsat learned that the Council of Syndicate of Editors will hold an extraordinary meeting to discuss the verdict on Itani and issue a statement.

Friday’s ruling came amid a similar one-year sentence against activist Jerry Maher in a lawsuit filed against him by a lawyer for defaming “Hezbollah.”

Following the sentences, which raised fears over growing restrictions on media freedom in Lebanon, a judicial source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the ruling against Itani does not contradict with the press law.

Itani had failed to appear in court, said the source. So, he received the maximum penalty required for suspects on trial in absentia.

The person involved can resort to certain judicial measures to appeal his sentence, the source added.

Bassil sued Itani over a Facebook post on June 30, 2017, in which the journalist commented on “random killings,” “hundreds of arrests” and "forced return" of Syrian refugees to Syria.

He later used a derogatory Arabic-language expression against Bassil.