Lebanese TV host quits after death threats

A prominent Lebanese journalist and television presenter has resigned from MTV Lebanon, citing death threats allegedly made by supporters of a powerful militant group.

Dr Eman Shweikh, who is also a university professor, announced her departure on X (formerly Twitter), describing a campaign of intimidation. “I decided to leave MTV because of the intimidations that reached the point of death threats and harassment, including being followed home and chased on the road. My family has also been harassed”, she wrote.

The Samir Kassir Eyes Center reported that Shweikh had faced threats and accusations of treason since 12 November over her political views on social media and her work at MTV.

“The state is absent, and laws are non-existent. I do not want to put my life and my family’s lives at risk. I want to live in safety and peace”, Shweikh added, thanking MTV’s chairman Michel Murr.

Legal advocate Tarek Chindeb responded to her announcement, saying: “The threat to kill journalist Eman Shweikh demonstrates that we cannot build a state in Lebanon whilst illegal weapons and unaccountable militias exist”.

The incident follows a pattern of intimidation against journalists in Lebanon. In July, MTV journalist Nawal Berry and cameraman Dany Tanios were attacked whilst reporting on an Israeli airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Berry and her team had previously been assaulted during the October 2019 protests.

Other journalists who have faced similar threats include Layal Alekhtiar, who received death threats in 2021 and faced legal action for interviewing an Israeli spokesperson, as well as Dima Sadek and Ali Al-Amin.

Shweikh was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​