October 13, 2026
The intensity of the disputes between the Lebanese Press Editors Syndicate and the International Federation of Journalists has been renewed, against the backdrop of the visit of its Secretary General, Antoine Belanger, to Beirut, which the Syndicate announced that it has no connection with it due to lack of prior coordination with it.
The union confirmed in a statement issued today, Tuesday, that Belanger’s tours and meetings with Lebanese officials “do not concern it,” reiterating the reasons for its final withdrawal from the International Federation, which it summed up as “violating the protocols and understandings” regulating the union’s relationship with Arab unions through the General Union of Arab Journalists, especially in terms of not bypassing national unions or imposing the affiliation of journalistic groups outside their frameworks.
The union accused Secretary-General Belanger of imposing the affiliation of a Lebanese group to the International Federation without its approval, which prompted it to take the decision to withdraw. It also directed sharp criticism at the union’s performance towards Lebanese journalists affected by the Beirut port explosion and the Israeli attacks, noting that it failed to provide support to the injured, displaced, and families of martyrs, and refused to launch international relief campaigns similar to those it organizes in similar crises.
Regarding the legislative file, the union denounced Belanger’s position in support of the media law, noting that the current draft faces widespread opposition from the press and editors’ unions and human rights and media bodies, because it contains freedom-depriving penalties that allow for the arrest and imprisonment of journalists. In its statement, the union asked about the reasons for an international official concerned with press freedom supporting a law allowing the imprisonment of media professionals, especially in light of legislative efforts to amend it.
This union escalation comes at a time when Lebanon is witnessing a heated debate regarding journalistic work guarantees, amid continuing demands from union and human rights bodies to abolish custodial penalties and provide full legal protection for workers in the media sector.
