Lebanon deported the Reuters journalist after being questioned

September 3 (Reuters) – Lebanon deported a Reuters correspondent after questioning him on arrival at Beirut airport at the start of an intelligence operation last month, and detained him during the night before putting it on a flight to Jordan.

Jordanian Suleiman al-Khalidi flew to Beirut on August 2, but was detained by passport control officials who set him aside to interrogate him and asked him to hand over his laptop and his company’s mobile phone, Khalidi said.

Authorities gave no reason for the lawsuit. After Khalidi refused to hand over his equipment, he was taken to a deportation center before being returned to Jordan the next day.

Reuters wrote to Lebanese authorities calling for the decision to be reversed.

“We have protested to Lebanese government officials about the treatment of Reuters journalist Suleiman al-Khalidi and are seeking more information from these authorities, who have not provided any explanation for their action,” a Reuters spokesman said.

“Suleiman’s reports have been independent and impartial, in accordance with the principles of trust. Reuters condemns the restrictions imposed on journalists who want to report news in the public interest.”

In its response, Lebanon’s General Security Directorate said Lebanese law ensured a media-free environment. He did not say whether Khalidi’s expulsion would be rescinded.

“The ban on entry into Lebanon is a purely sovereign decision of the Lebanese state and has nothing to do with their job or profession,” the letter said. The letter described the decision as a denial of entry rather than a deportation because officials did not make any entry stamp on Khalidi’s passport.

Khalidi, Reuters ’chief correspondent in Jordan and Syria, has worked for 25 years at the international news agency, covering Jordan and the Syrian conflict, as well as reporting on Iraq, Lebanon, Libya and the Gulf.

Edited by Howard Goller

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