Prominent Lawyer Nizar Saghieh Facing Sanction for Speaking Out
Prominent Lebanese lawyer Nizar Saghieh, who heads the local rights-based organization Legal Agenda, faces the threat of sanction – including possible disbarment – for speaking out against the Beirut Bar Association’s decision to arbitrarily and unlawfully limit what lawyers can say in public. Saghieh will appear before the Council of the Beirut Bar Association tomorrow.
Today, ?? lawyer & executive director of @Legal_Agenda @nsaghieh is set to appear before the Beirut Bar Association following his summons. All my solidarity & support for this remarkable legal advocate as he navigates this arbitrary, unjust attempt to restrict his expression. https://t.co/X2VebPxZoy
— Mai El-Sadany (@maitelsadany) April 20, 2023
The amendments to the Bar Association’s Legal Code of Ethics, approved by the council in March, restrict lawyers from participating in media interviews, conferences, and panels about legal issues, or even discussing such legal issues on social media without first obtaining approval from the bar association’s head. The amendments also restrict lawyers from criticizing members of the Beirut Bar Association’s council, including the president, during council elections. All lawyers who wish to practice in Lebanon are required to be members of the Beirut or Tripoli Bar Associations, which are set up and regulated under Lebanese law.
? NEW: TIMEP joins a coalition of lawyers, judges, bar associations and civil society groups to stand in solidarity with Lebanese lawyer & @Legal_Agenda ED @nsaghieh as he comes under targeting for his exercise of free expression & his legal defense work. https://t.co/J2Y3LKBvUa
— The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (@TimepDC) April 20, 2023
Saghieh, who publicly protested the decision, was summoned by the council on March 28 and April 4, and he believes that he may be disbarred in retaliation for his criticism.
Strong numbers showing up in support of Nizar Saghieh ahead of his hearing before the council of the Beirut Bar Association.
Nizar’s summoning and the council’s decision to restrict what lawyers can say publicly is an alarming violation of the right to freedom of expression. pic.twitter.com/zJRuKYbo0o
— Ramzi Kaiss / ???? ??? (@kaiss_ramzi) April 20, 2023
Thirteen lawyers including Saghieh have appealed the council’s decision, and on May 4 the Beirut Court of Appeals will rule on the legality of the new restrictions. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers has previously emphasized that “codes of professional conduct for lawyers should respect their fundamental rights,” including freedom of expression.
This comes amid an alarming series of actions by Lebanese authorities to muffle free expression.
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https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/04/19/beirut-bar-association-seeks-muzzle-lawyers
