Omar Harqous, a television journalist with Future News, a Beirut-based news channel, was attacked on Thursday, 27 November, while covering a demonstration by supporters of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party. The demonstrators were attempting to prevent the municipality authorities from removing political posters.

Harqous had identified himself as a journalist to the demonstrators, and the logo of the news channel was clearly visible on all the equipment he was carrying. Nonetheless, he was attacked and beaten by between fifteen and twenty of the protesters.

According to Hussein Wajeh, Manager, Future News, the attackers identified Omar Harqous and warned him to leave the premises. They then beat him until he lost consciousness. Harqous was taken to a hospital by paramedics.

Lebanese media protested the attack on Friday by organizing a sit-in outside the Future News building. Hundreds of media employees, as well as representatives of the government, were present at the protest.

“Journalists must have the freedom to cover issues without the fear of harassment and physical violence. The Lebanese authorities have a responsibility to protect media from attacks of this nature,” said IPI Director David Dadge. “We call on the Lebanese authorities to carry out a thorough investigation to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”

Future News Television is part of the Future Media Network, which is owned by the family of Saad Hariri, the head of the Future movement, the majority party in the Lebanese parliament. The channel has been targeted before. On 9 May, Hezbollah gunmen and other forces opposing the Lebanese government had forced Future TV, Future News and Radio Orient off the air. The channels were re-launched five days later from a different venue due to the damage caused to their headquarters and out of fear of another attack.