BEIRUT: Hezbollah Sunday accused Saudi Arabia of running a "media slave market" and attempting to threaten freedom of press in Lebanon after the Saudi ambassador to Lebanon said that the Al-Akhbar newspaper belonged to the "Iran-Hezbollah-Syria axis."
Saudi Arabia, who dominates Arabic media outlets, is attempting to threaten and insult “the Lebanese free voice,” Hezbollah MP Nawaf al-Moussawi said Sunday.
“It is threating it with prosecution, closure or elimination,” he added, after Ambassador Ali Awad Asiri accused the Al-Akhbar newspaper of spreading lies and rumors about Saudi Arabia and hinted that Riyadh might sue in response.
Moussawi distinguished Al-Akhbar, which he described as an “honorable free media outlet,” from other media outlets that “scavenge” for funds from the Saudi Arabian treasury.
“Al-Akhbar is a voice that represents free people and not a...media slave market purchased with oil money,” he added.
The Hezbollah MP said it was unacceptable for the kingdom’s ambassador to “insult” any Lebanese newspaper and added that Asiri was overstepping his boundaries.
He called on the Saudi envoy to apologize to the Lebanese people and revoke his threats, while also urging citizens to commit to their “deep seated tradition of freedom.”
Al-Akhbar has been one of the most prominent voices against the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen launched last week.
Moussawi’s comments serve as the second response made by Hezbollah over the ambassador's comments.
In a statement issued by the party's media office Saturday, spokesperson Mohammad Afif accused Asiri of endangering the lives of the newspaper staff.
"[Asiri's remarks] represent a blatant and direct threat to the newspaper and the life and safety of its employees, a direct assault on the dignity and freedom of the press in Lebanon, as well as a gross interference ... in Lebanese internal affairs," Afif said.
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