* Category includes ratification, accession, or succession to the treaty

The Lebanese Constitution was adopted in 1926 and became the foundation for the Lebanese Republic when the country gained its independence in 1943. It was most recently amended in 1989 in an effort to end Lebanon’s 15-year civil war. Article 13 of the Constitution provides: “The freedom to express one’s opinion orally or in writing, the freedom of the press, the freedom of assembly, and the freedom of association shall be guaranteed within the limits established by law.”

Relevant national legislation includes the following:

• 1. Ottoman Law on Associations of 1909 [English] [عربي]
• 2. Ottoman Law on Cooperative Societies of 1909
• 3. Ministry of Interior and Municipalities Circular 10/AM/2006 of 2006 [English] [عربي]
• 4. Legislative Decree No. 87 on Public Utility Organizations of 1977

In November 2023, the Lebanese Parliament’s Administration and Justice Committee was reportedly concluding secret discussions on a new Media Law, which, if approved by the Parliament’s General Assembly, would heavily curtail freedom of expression and press freedom in Lebanon. The latest draft would uphold criminal penalties, and in some cases increase prison sentences and fines, for insults and defamation. The draft law also retains prison terms of up to three years for insulting “recognized religions”.

If you are aware of other pending legal or regulatory initiatives, write to ICNL at ngomonitor@icnl.org.

According to the 1909 Law on Associations, an association is a group composed of more than one individual that combines their knowledge and effort in a permanent fashion to achieve a goal which does not include the distribution of profit.

Lebanese associations may obtain a public benefit designation only by an act of Parliament. Because there is no formal procedure, no associations have been awarded public benefit status in a number of years. Public benefit status allows associations to receive public funds, bid for government contracts, and receive limited tax benefits.

According to Lebanon’s 1909 Law on Associations, formation of an association does not require prior approval from the government; rather, the Law requires that the government be notified when an association is formed (Article 2). The notification process entails submitting information including an association’s address, goal, two copies of the association’s bylaws, and the identification cards of its founders to the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities (Article 6). Per a Ministerial circular issued in 2006, the Ministry is required to issue notification receipts within 30 days of receiving the notification; this receipt serves as proof of an association’s legality. In practice, however, the Ministry does not always abide by the 30-day requirement, and the notification receipt may be delayed by several months or more. The receipt is important for an NGO’s functioning, as it is required in order for an NGO to carry out a number of essential activities such as opening a bank account or accessing international funding. Accordingly, a delay in the issuing of the notification receipt has detrimental impact on an NGO’s operations.

“Secret” or undeclared associations are prohibited and subject to dissolution by government authorities, according to Article 6 of the Law on Associations. However, the Lebanese government has not attempted to dissolve any association on these grounds since at least 2006.

There are no legal barriers to resources, whether from domestic or foreign sources.

The Law on Associations does not include explicit barriers to associations’ speech or advocacy activity. Associations are free to engage on issues of public policy concern. The government has, however, prosecuted association members and activists under provisions of the penal code and the Audio-Visual Media Law for statements that are critical of public officials or foreign heads of state.

In the first half of 2021, Lebanese security authorities pursued journalists, activists, bloggers, lawyers and even artists because of their opinions and posts on social media platforms. Governmental authorities use provisions on defamation, libel, insult, and enticing strife, among others, to silence opposition voices or calls for change. The decline of freedoms in Lebanon is reflected in the country’s increasingly low international rankings.

The cases of summonses and interrogations of journalists, researchers, and activists between April 1 and July 1, 2021 included the following:

• British journalist Matt Kynaston and German freelance journalist Stella Männer were detained by Hezbollah militants and then released to Lebanese authorities. Hezbollah threatened journalist Marian Saifeddine and her family.
• Researcher and activist Karim Safieddine was interrogated by military police.
• Lebanese lawyer and founder of the Anti-Corruption Alliance Rami Ollaik was forcibly arrested by security agents.
• Actress and stand-up comedian Shaden was summoned by the Anti-cyber Crimes Bureau for making a farcical request on the government’s e-platform for lockdowns and movement permits.
• Dancer Alexander Paulikevitch was accused of assaulting the internal security forces during the October 17, 2020 uprising and, despite being a civilian, was ordered to appear before the military court. Similarly, activists Sarah Hammoud and Rabih Labaki were summoned to appear before a military court for strongly resisting security officers during the October 17 uprising.
• Lebanese singer Elie Massaad was summonedfor questioning by Lebanese army intelligence after the release of his song entitled “We lost you as a great ruler”.
• Judge Ghada Aoun fileda lawsuit against journalist Dima Sadek and MTV for her expressed opinions.
• The Anti-Cybercrime Bureau interrogated activist Ragheb al-Shoufi due to posts against the Minister of Interior Mohammad Fahmi.

After 2021, the crackdown continued. For example, on March 30, 2023, Jean Kassir, co-founder of the independent media outlet Megaphone, was detained by two security officers, who informed him that he was summoned to appear at the Central Investigation Directorate of the General Directorate of State Security without disclosing the reason behind the summons. This did not comply with the procedures set out by law, but was instead an intimidation tactic. According to Megaphone, the reason behind the summons was a social media post entitled “Lebanon ruled by fugitives from justice,” which suggested that the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation as well as other officials had been charged by the judicial investigator Tarek Bitar in the Beirut port explosion case.

Shortly after Kassir was summoned, the Cybercrimes Bureau also summoned journalist Lara Bitar, editor-in-chief of the Public Source website, to appear for an interrogation because of a complaint from the “Lebanese Forces” political party regarding an article she published on toxic waste. These two cases highlighted the increasingly restrictive environment for freedom of expression in Lebanon.

Article 13 of Lebanon’s Constitution provides that “the freedom of assembly…shall be guaranteed within the limits established by law.” The primary law governing the right to assemble is the Ottoman-era Public Assemblies Law of 1911, which was amended in 1931 and again in 1932. Subsequent government directives, such as Ministry of Interior Decree 4082 of 2000, as well as the Lebanese Penal Code also contain provisions relevant to the conduct of public assemblies. In practice, assembly organizers must often obtain a pre-approved permit from the governor of the district where the assembly will take place, if it will obstruct public streets.

In practice, however, these provisions are rarely used, and the government generally allows peaceful assemblies to proceed with few legal restrictions. Police use force to disperse crowds in some circumstances, such as during widespread anti-government protests in Beirut in September and October 2015. When those protests turned violent, security officials used what some considered to be excessive force; several dozen of the thousands of protestors were detained and charged with assault and vandalism under the Penal Code.

Vague Provisions

Article 3 of the Public Assemblies Law provides that the government may prevent a public assembly that would disturb public security or public order or public morality, and would go against the regular and normal course of public interests. Such broad language, especially with regard to the “regular and normal course of public interests” gives the government substantial discretion to prevent assemblies. In recent years, the government has banned a number of assemblies on grounds that they posed a threat to or would otherwise disturb public security.

Advance Notification

The Public Assemblies Law does not require prior authorization before a public assembly may take place, and in fact explicitly provides in Article 1 that no permit is required. However, public assemblies are subject to a process of prior notification. Article 2 of the Law provides that assembly organizers must prepare a “statement paper” and submit it to the Ministry of Interior (if the assembly will be held in Beirut) or the local administrative authority (if to be held outside of Beirut). The statement paper must be submitted at least 48 hours before the date of the assembly, according to Article 4 of the Law. It must include, among other things, the exact time of the assembly, its location, intended purpose, and the names and signatures of at least two assembly participants who reside in the assembly area.

While the law in Lebanon does not specifically provide for spontaneous assemblies, in practice the government generally protects and facilitates such assemblies as long as they are peaceful and participants are unarmed.

Time, Place, Manner Restrictions

The Public Assemblies Law provides certain restrictions on the location and timing of public assemblies. Per the Law, assemblies may not be held in public roads intended for traffic or pedestrian crossing, or within three kilometers from the presidential palace or the parliament. Public assemblies in open spaces may only take place between sunrise and sunset. These broad, blanket constraints on the permissible place and time for assemblies unduly restrict individuals’ ability to peacefully assemble according to international standards.

Criminal Penalties

Under the Law on Public Assemblies, the organizers of an illegal assembly are subject to a prison sentence of between six months and three years, or a monetary fine, or both. In addition, Lebanon’s Penal Code criminalizes “riot demonstrations and assemblies,” which it defines as rallies or parades on a public road or venue, composed of 1) at least three persons, at least one of whom has a weapon and intent to commit a felony or misdemeanor; or 2) at least seven persons intending to demonstrate against a decision or action taken by a public authority; or 3) more than 20 persons suspected of disturbing the public peace. The Penal Code also criminalizes the act of inciting a riot assembly, with a potential penalty of between a month and a year’s imprisonment or monetary fine, or both.

In 2023, the Minister of Interior, Judge Bassam Al Mawlawi issued two administrative decisions prohibiting LGBTQI gatherings, saying they conflict with Lebanese customs, norms, and traditions. These legal developments have been viewed as a setback to the right to assemble in Lebanon, especially for those who identify as LGBTQI and wish to express their sexual orientation and gender identity.

Lebanese citizens mobilize to fill the vacuum left by an absent state (October 2024)
For years, Lebanese citizens have become accustomed to the state being a poor contact point. Now, the Israeli offensive, which has displaced 20% of the population due to the invasion of the increasingly devastated south of the country, with two other areas under daily attacks, is creating a significant impact on the battered national coffers. Faced with the impotence of the authorities ― Ma fi dawla (there is no state) is a common phrase in Lebanon ― civil society groups, volunteers, political parties, and even prominent citizens have been hastily filling the gaps, such as the young people who distribute thousands of meals to the displaced, or the Palestinian who began to build a medical center because he was under no illusions about what was on the horizon.

Makram Rabah and Lebanon’s endangered freedom of expression (March 2024)
Lebanon’s reputation as a beacon of freedom of expression in the Arab world has suffered greatly in recent years. The case of Makram Rabah, an assistant professor at the American University of Beirut (AUB) who was briefly detained by the General Security Directorate, has accelerated fears of an apparently ongoing decline in this fundamental freedom in the country.

Attack on Freedoms Targets LGBTI People (October 2023)
Lebanese authorities are systematically attacking the fundamental human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people, the Coalition to Defend Freedom of Expression in Lebanon, comprised of fifteen Lebanese and international organizations, said. In August 2023, two Lebanese officials introduced separate bills that would explicitly criminalize same-sex relations between consenting adults and punish anyone who “promotes homosexuality” with up to three years’ in prison.

Investigate Assault on Freedom March Protesters (October 2023)
The Lebanese authorities must urgently investigate the violent premeditated assault during a freedom march on 30 September organized by more than 24 civil society organizations to protest the recent crackdown on personal and political freedoms in Lebanon, Amnesty International said. The investigation must also include security forces’ abject failure to protect protesters from the attack.

Hayat Mirshad Summoned for Interrogation… A Battle of Snatching Freedoms and Believing Survivors (May 2023)
In a new attempt to suppress journalists and activists and silence them, The Cybercrime and Intellectual Property Protection Bureau subpoenaed Editor in Chief of “Sharika wa Laken” and the Executive Director of FEMALE Organization, journalist and feminist activist, Hayat Mirshad, to appear before the Bureau next Thursday, on June 1.

Lebanon: Court decision is a blow to freedom of expression and independence of lawyers (May 2023)
As part of the Coalition to Defend Freedom of Expression in Lebanon, MENA Rights Group condemned the Beirut Bar Association’s amendment of the code of ethics, which will now require lawyers to obtain prior permission from the President of the BBA before engaging in any public or media appearances or discussing legal issues on social media, and bans lawyers from criticising the President of the BBA and its council members.

Lebanon’s police fire tear gas as protesters try to storm govt headquarters (March 2023)
Lebanese security forces fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters, mainly retired soldiers, who tried to break through the fence leading to the government headquarters in downtown Beirut. The violence came amid widespread anger over the harsh economic conditions in the country, where mismanagement by the ruling class has been rampant for years, preceding the economic meltdown that started in late 2019. The retired soldiers and policemen demanding better pay clashed with riot police and troops.

Lebanon: No accountability for security forces’ crackdown on protesters since 2019 – report (March 2023)
No law enforcement officials have been prosecuted in Lebanon for their unlawful and excessive use of force against protesters during anti-government protests since 2019, Amnesty International said today as it publishes a new report with the Omega Research Foundation.

Lebanon: Unlawful Crackdown on LGBTI Gatherings Immediately Annul Ban on Assembly; Protect LGBTI People from Attacks (July 2022)

Journalists detained by Hezbollah released to Lebanese authorities (June 2021)

Actress Shaden Esperanza summoned by Anti Cyber Crimes Bureau (May 2021)

Hezbollah threatens journalist Mariam Seifeddine and her family (May 2021)

Lokman Slim: Prominent Hezbollah critic shot dead in Lebanon (February 2021)

Military prosecutor brings terrorism charges against Tripoli protesters (February 2021)

Clashes over lockdowns, inequality escalate in Lebanon’s Tripoli after protester’s death (January 2021)

Judge acquits 14 activists accused of vandalism during 2015 protests (December 2020)

Cash-strapped Lebanon plans to charge for WhatsApp calls (October 2019)

Security Forces Use Excessive Force Against Protesters (October 2019)

Lebanon Protests Unite Sects in Demanding New Government (October 2019)

Lebanon is experiencing a social revolution (October 2019)

‘Change the system’: Lebanese protesters tell the government (October 2019)

Lebanon Scraps WhatsApp Tax as Protests Rage (October 2019)

Byblos Festival Drops Mashrou’ Leila (July 2019)

Beirut Municipality Postpones Waste Incinerator Decision Amid Protest (June 2019)

Palestinian refugees protest Lebanese government crackdown on unlicensed workers (July 2019)

Anti-Cybercrime Bureau interrogates Bisri Dam activists (July 2019)

Security Forces Try to Close LGBT Conference (September 2018)

The Establishment of Lebanon’s Judges Club (April 2018)

Lebanon’s civil society challenges traditional parties in upcoming vote (March 2018)

Human Rights Watch: Lebanon – Time for Action on Rights Abuses (January 2017)

Beirut protest turns violent, politicians postpone talks (April 2015)

Lebanese NGO awarded fifth place in Global Intercultural Innovation Award 2014 (October 2014)

Palestinian refugees in Lebanon protest against UNRWA (September 2013)

Employees at the Casino of Lebanon protest (November 2012)

Security Forces harass protestors sexually (October 2012)

Students protest against increased tuition fees (October 2012)

Protestors are beaten and insulted (September 2012)