Mahmoud Shuaib, a Shi'ite critic of Hezbollah from southern Lebanon, and Dr. Alfred Riachi, secretary-general of the Permanent Federal Congress, are both now facing legal action from the Lebanese judiciary after Hezbollah-affiliated lawyers filed complaints over comments they made that were deemed critical of the terror group and supportive of normalization with Israel, according to public statements made by the pair and Lebanese media reports on the case.
Shuaib was arrested at the Nabatieh police station on the orders of the Public Prosecutor, Judge Najat Abu Shaqra, based on charges of "espionage," and according to some reports, his criticism of the judiciary. After being detained on Friday, Shuaib confirmed on X that he was released on Monday.
Media reports suggest that the politically motivated arrest was based on fabricated charges following a number of complaints by pro-Hezbollah figures.
Notably, the activist’s then-14-year-old daughter, Waad Shuaib, was abducted by Hezbollah in 2021, whilst conducting a poll on public opinion in southern Lebanon, and held in the Nabatieh municipality building, the same municipality whose judiciary he has criticized in recent weeks. Waad was released after several hours of illegal detention after her father contacted several judges.
Riachi, a federalist political advocate, confirmed Lebanon’s Public Prosecutor had initiated proceedings against him following a lawsuit filed by Hezbollah-affiliated lawyers.
He was reportedly summoned over an X post he made, featuring the leaders of Israel, Lebanon and the US with the caption “A #PathToPeace meeting... coming "very soon"? Yes to the peace of the brave…,” according to Janoubia.
Israel, Lebanon negotiate peace deal
The post came as Beirut and Jerusalem, through Washington, have been engaged in talks aimed at reaching an agreement that would ultimately see an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory in exchange for guarantees addressing Israel’s security concerns over attacks by Hezbollah.
While the negotiations have been largely welcomed in Lebanon, Hezbollah and its supporters have condemned the talks, insisting that any ceasefire be reached through the Iranian channel, despite repeated assertions from Beirut that Iran and Hezbollah continue to undermine Lebanese sovereignty.
Riachi told the Lebanese media site that the social media post was being treated as being supportive of peace with Israel and has reshared content from the co-director and treasurer of the American Mideast Coalition for Democracy accusing Hezbollah-affiliated figures of “weaponizing the courts to silence voices calling for normalization and peace.”
Lawyer reacts to accusation
Lawyer Nadim Yusuf Al-Boustani published in a statement: "The campaign to which Dr. Alfred Riachi is being subjected, due to expressing his legitimate political opinions, falls under the category of systematic persecution to suppress public freedoms in Lebanon. It must be emphasized that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantee freedom of opinion and political action without any legitimate impediments or burdens. From this standpoint, we declare our affirmation of the defense of Dr. Riahi against any assault on his fundamental rights, with a warning against any attempt to harm his person or life, and an emphasis on the necessity of keeping matters within the framework of law and judiciary in accordance with what the international covenants stipulate."
Lebanese academic and Hezbollah critic Dr. Zena Mansour, who has shared more moderate explanations of Israeli military action in Lebanon and was summoned to the General Security Directorate’s Information Affairs Office last month, wrote that the legal action was “an attempt to put ideas on trial, silence debate, and scare anyone dreaming of a safe, peaceful Lebanon.”