Latest news with #pan-Arab
L'Orient-Le Jour
a day ago
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Lebanese journalist Hajar Knio questioned over alleged 'collaboration with Israel,' accusation she denies
BEIRUT — Lebanese journalist and activist Hajar Knio was questioned Wednesday morning by the General Security Intelligence Branch under an order from Judge Fadi Akiki, assistant government commissioner to the military court, over allegations of 'collaborating with Israel,' a charge she denies, according to Jad Shahrour, communications officer for the Samir Kassir Foundation. Shahrour noted that 'it seems that her arrest is similar to previous arrests of journalists working for al-Arabiyah or Hadath.' Knio had previously worked for the Saudi Al-Hadath channel, based in the United Arab Emirates and is currently an independent freelance journalist, according to her social media platforms. Shahrour noted that although the 'Lebanese law forbids Lebanese nationals from interacting with Israel, sometimes journalists working for international or pan-Arab outlets might not have a choice to do so. Similarly, if a Lebanese journalist is attending a conference abroad and an Israeli journalist attends, and the Israeli journalist decides to greet the Lebanese journalist, how can one control such situations?' However, he noted that Knio 'said that she never contacted Israeli journalists or anyone from Israel and that all the information from her reports that she would get, she would be citing Israeli journalists from information she got from the press not by contacting them herself.' Lebanon and Israel are officially in a state of war, and Lebanese law strictly prohibits any contact with Israeli authorities. Such actions are considered crimes, punishable by imprisonment. Over the years, numerous individuals have been arrested for alleged collaboration with Israel, with sentences reaching up to 25 years in prison. 'I challenge anyone to prove even a single word accusing me of communicating with an Israeli ' In a Tuesday article, a judicial source told al-Modon that "a security-related arrest and investigation notice has been issued against her," noting that Lebanon's General Security detained Knio upon her arrival late Monday night from Dubai on a Middle East Airlines (MEA) flight to Beirut. Knio was not immediately available to respond to L'Orient Today's calls for further comment. In a statement to al-Modon on Tuesday, Knio said she was unaware of the reason for her detention, as no charges were communicated to her. She described her experience: 'I arrived at Beirut airport around midnight and waited for over an hour in line to get my passport stamped. When I reached the General Security officer and he scanned my passport, he asked me if I had any issues with anyone. I said no. Then they took me into a small room, waiting for the General Security's judicial bulletin results.' She continued: 'After a few minutes, they brought me my bags and told me that if someone was waiting for me outside, they should leave, because I was being detained based on an arrest warrant issued by Judge Fadi Akiki.' Knio said she asked the officer what crime she was accused of, but he replied that he did not know. 'At 9 a.m., after they had brought in a patrol car to take me to the military court, they changed their minds and released me, but confiscated both my Lebanese and Emirati phones, as well as my laptop. They instructed me to report the next day, Wednesday at 10 a.m., to the General Security Investigation Branch at the National Museum.' Knio reaffirmed that she had no idea why she was detained: 'I'm a journalist. I worked for al-Arabiya for years, conducted investigations, and produced documentaries, some of which tackled drug networks and Captagon production. I now work independently on my own platforms.' She concluded: 'I challenge anyone to prove even a single word accusing me of communicating with an Israeli or any internal or external intelligence agency. I will attend the investigation with a team of lawyers to see the file, which appears to be fabricated against me, and I'm ready to face them.' Targeting of journalists 'no longer justifiable' In response, the organization Journalists for Freedom condemned Knio's detention in the strongest terms. In a statement, the group said: 'These practices, which have increasingly targeted journalists and activists, are no longer justifiable or tolerable. They carry a retaliatory and vindictive nature aimed at silencing and intimidating dissenting voices, all within a broader climate of repression and contempt for the law. For such actions to be initiated by a judicial authority, which is supposed to protect rights, not violate them — is a dangerous sign of the erosion of freedoms in Lebanon.' The group called on the President, Prime Minister and Minister of Justice to address the incident, warning that 'the image of the state is being damaged by these blatant violations, which erode public trust in the judiciary and state institutions.' In January, Lebanese journalist Layal Ikhtiyar was briefly detained upon arriving in Beirut, following a military court summons over her interview with Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee on al-Arabiya, aired from Dubai after the war in Gaza began. She was questioned by Judge Fadi Sawwan and released the same day
L'Orient-Le Jour
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Nâdiya: I camped with UN Peacekeepers in South Lebanon
Mr. and Mrs. Zighem have always watched Lebanese television. This Algerian couple often tuned in to LBCI and, in the 2000s, never missed an episode of the pan-Arab "Star Academy."Sometimes, to their surprise, they would see their young Nadia, energetic and proud, electrifying the audience with her martial the time, their daughter was shining in France, and even beyond. Not as Nadia Zighem, but as "Nâdiya." Why that spelling? Nâdi, in Arabic, means "the one who calls." Ya, a particle used before Allah to address him..."There you go!" smiles the artist as she provides the explanation to this predictable, slightly silly question. Mystical references slip into every answer from the singer, an icon of a generation, who is making a comeback at age from the hip-hop aesthetic of her famous...
Egypt Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
President Sisi reaffirms Egypt's unwavering support to AL
CAIRO, July 20 (MENA) – President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday reiterated Egypt's commitment to supporting the Arab League, in light of the pan-Arab body's pivotal role in promoting joint Arab action and closing Arab ranks to overcome region's complex and unprecedented challenges. This came during president Sisi's meeting with Secretary General of the Arab League of Arab Ahmed Abul Gheit. The meeting addressed the latest developments pertinent to Arab crises and issues, mainly the situation in Gaza Strip and the West Bank, as well as the massive efforts being made by Egypt and Qatar to reach a ceasefire and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, according to Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed el Shennawi. The meeting tackled prospects of pursuing a just and comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian cause through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, in accordance with international legitimacy, the protection of the rights of the Palestinian people and the prevention of their displacement. The meeting also touched on the latest developments in Syria and Libya, in addition to the situation in Sudan and the ongoing efforts to restore security and stability there. The meeting tackled the political and security situations in the Horn of Africa and the security of the Red Sea. For his part, Abul Gheit commended Egypt's wise stances, which contribute to restoring security and stability in the Middle East, especially through its support for a just and final solution to the Palestinian issue, as the only path to achieving lasting and comprehensive peace in the region. (MENA)
Egypt Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
President Sisi reaffirms Egypt's unwavering support to AL
CAIRO, July 20 (MENA) – President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday reiterated Egypt's commitment to supporting the Arab League, in light of the pan-Arab body's pivotal role in promoting joint Arab action and closing Arab ranks to overcome region's complex and unprecedented challenges. This came during president Sisi's meeting with Secretary General of the Arab League of Arab Ahmed Abul Gheit. The meeting addressed the latest developments pertinent to Arab crises and issues, mainly the situation in Gaza Strip and the West Bank, as well as the massive efforts being made by Egypt and Qatar to reach a ceasefire and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, according to Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed el Shennawi. The meeting tackled prospects of pursuing a just and comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian cause through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, in accordance with international legitimacy, the protection of the rights of the Palestinian people and the prevention of their displacement. The meeting also touched on the latest developments in Syria and Libya, in addition to the situation in Sudan and the ongoing efforts to restore security and stability there. The meeting tackled the political and security situations in the Horn of Africa and the security of the Red Sea. For his part, Abul Gheit commended Egypt's wise stances, which contribute to restoring security and stability in the Middle East, especially through its support for a just and final solution to the Palestinian issue, as the only path to achieving lasting and comprehensive peace in the region. (MENA)
L'Orient-Le Jour
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Carole Samaha: I wanted a project as ambitious as my work with the Rahbani family
She has been the most discussed figure in the national entertainment scene's inner circles in recent months. A prolific interpreter of both sugary pop and passionate patriotic anthems, and an actress with a delicate filmography, Carole Samaha has made her mark with the momentum of a new millennium under the guidance of one of the founders of modern musical theater in Lebanon. The feminine embodiment of Mansour Rahbani's final elegant fantasies, the actress — one of the few divas in the variety scene to successfully merge a popular repertoire with the image of a poised artist — now, at 53, embarks on a long dreamed-of, ardently desired journey toward lightness. Alongside her concerts and recording sessions, Samaha, known for her often firm stances on pan-Arab societal changes, has also devotedly cared for her husband, who battled cancer for nearly a decade (and passed away just days before her widely discussed comeback), and watched over her young daughter who remains in Egypt, where Samaha spends most of the year. Discreet about her feelings and grief, Samaha returns to the stage this scorching July as part of the prestigious Beiteddine Festival, with "Kello Masmuh" ("Anything Goes"), an ambitious adaptation of a Broadway show by Roy al-Khoury, who two years ago also helmed the Arabic version of Chicago. Samaha answers L'Orient-Le Jour's questions. The general public first discovered you on Mansour Rahbani's stage a quarter of a century ago. Today, you're reconnecting with your first love, more than 15 years since your last musical. Why now? I've wanted to return to the stage like this for quite some time. After all these years away, I wanted this comeback to be both innovative and different from what I've previously done. The public has a rather serious idea of me, probably because I've often played intense roles throughout my career. Roy introduced me to "Anything Goes," a comedy with vaudeville elements, full of lightness — precisely what I needed right now. When I met fans or people in the industry, they often told me I was missed and that I should return. But I kept saying I couldn't find a project ambitious enough since my collaborations with the Rahbani family. My return had to be demanding, worthy of the expectations. I was impressed by Roy and Nayla's [the producer's] vision, and that's how a trusting partnership began. This project was unfortunately postponed several times due to instability in the region, particularly the war that hit Lebanon in the fall of 2024. How did you get through that period? Like all my compatriots, I lived through those months anxiously — maybe even more so, given my rather complex personal situation. At the September 2024 press conference, I was very worried about my family's well-being. I was juggling rehearsals in Beirut for the show with trips back and forth to Egypt to be with my family. This year, as everyone now knows, was especially tough for me, as if all burdens were loaded on my shoulders. To make matters worse, I had just released an album barely a week before the war in our country escalated. During war, artists' work is, of course, put on hold — and believe me, there's nothing fun or restful about that. Talking about those frustrations, which unfortunately, too many of Lebanon's cultural figures endure, how did you manage to stay apolitical despite the anger caused by the situation? Over time, you learn, with difficulty, to channel that anger you mentioned into something more constructive than simply sharing your emotions online. If all this had happened 10 years ago, I probably would have sunk into a kind of despair. Today, I believe that age and experience can help ease the pain and wounds, showing that getting angry only hurts oneself. I wrote and composed a lot in the fall, and that helped me. Because I refuse to stop creating, to stop reinventing myself and fighting. Your husband passed away just a few days before the big opening of the show, barely more than two months ago. Did you ever consider, even for a moment, stopping everything? Postponing a second time, after all we'd gone through as a team, just wasn't an option. That would have meant outright cancellation. I am someone who keeps her promises and commitments. Most importantly, I don't carry this project alone: Behind me are dozens of people — producers, dancers, musicians — who have poured their hearts and souls into it. Cancelling would have been a massive blow to everyone's energy, motivation and finances. You experienced a similar loss and dilemma — whether or not to take the stage — after your father's death. I lost my father in 1996, just three days before a show's opening. At the time, I didn't tell anyone except maybe two actors in my troupe. I was not yet famous, no one really knew me, so naturally, the news didn't make headlines like it did recently. That's how I handle things: I ask myself if stopping would help me get through hard times. My body can't bear pain forever. I allow myself to cry, to let it all out, as long as I make myself a promise to rebuild quickly afterward. On a lighter note, regarding 'Anything Goes,' a show revived many times in the US, you said you've never watched previous adaptations. Was that to avoid being influenced by an acting style that's not your own? That's how I've continuously operated. When I know another artist has already performed a role, I do everything I can to avoid watching or analyzing those performances, so I don't unconsciously compare myself to them. It's not about pride or vanity; it's the certainty that each actor must deliver something unique. I can't — and don't want to — copy another actress. I want to share my vision of the character. And I think that's what the public deserves. When your fame crosses borders and you're making an anticipated comeback, does the pressure to do well spoil the joy of being back on stage? To be completely honest, I'm more afraid of reappearing on TV than on stage. That scares me more because I'm not in a position to control everything: post-production, editing, cuts — your image and work are ultimately out of your hands. In the theater, the actor is more responsible for successes or failures. Once the lights come up, you're no longer dependent on others. Your last TV appearance was as Sabah in the biographical series ' Al-Shahroura. ' Did that make you want the distance you mentioned? One thing's for sure: I won't take on more biopics. I was brave enough to take on this role, especially since I missed acting a lot and wanted a challenge. I did it, but it doesn't mean I'll do it again. Today, I'm fully focused on my music and upcoming performances... ...which will be at Beiteddine. How does it feel to be there for the first time after last year's obstacles? This festival is a powerful symbol, an internationally renowned event that embodies the bravest parts of our nation. Over time, it's proven itself: Only the best of the best perform at its legendary palace; its programming and organization have preserved the event's authenticity and splendor. I can't wait to join the orchestra and audience. Be many! After five performances at Casino du Liban in May 2025, the musical 'Anything Goes' ('Kello Masmuh') will be staged on Wednesday, July 23 and Thursday, July 24, as part of the Beiteddine Festival. Tickets are on sale at
