Sabine Darrous
Daily Star staff

Information Minister Ghazi Aridi instructed audiovisual media executives on Wednesday to practice self-restraint and avoid “provoking animosity and sectarian strife.”
“We do not accept that any media station or journalist be targeted, but at the same time we will not allow violations on the media front and provocations of sectarian strife,” Aridi said after meeting with audiovisual media representatives at the ministry.
Aridi was referring to the general atmosphere that prevailed in the media before and during the controversial Metn by-election, during which some television stations, especially Murr Television, were accused of violating the media law and broadcasting sensitive political and sectarian issues.
Interior Minister Elias Murr accused his uncle and incoming Metn MP Gabriel Murr of using his station, MTV, to promote his electoral campaign against his sister Myrna and his father Michel, who lost the battle.
Two days before the June 2 by-election, Elias Murr said during an interview with LBCI that MTV should be prosecuted for violating the law.
Elias Murr’s comments were criticized by many politicians, including Aridi, who defended MTV and said he would not allow its prosecution or closure.
During the news conference that followed his meeting with media officials, Aridi did not accuse any particular station of provoking sensitive issues, but said that “politicians contributed” in spreading a tense atmosphere.
He said he remarked on different stations’ performance, but said that media executives “were very understanding” and have expressed their commitment to following the law.
“We don’t want to suppress freedoms or one’s own opinion, but we do not want to offer a free service for those who are lurking in Lebanon,” Aridi said, referring to unidentified evildoers.
He said regional developments and US pressure, especially on Syria, after the Sept. 11 attacks required the Lebanese and their media to be cautious and reinforce national solidarity.
Regarding the appointment of a new board of directors for the National Audiovisual Media Council, whose term ended almost two weeks ago, Aridi said the Cabinet will appoint a new one soon. He said that he informed the Cabinet about the end of the board’s term, adding that the government has decided not to extend its mandate, but rather to appoint a new board.

‘Bishop was criticized, not attacked’

The president of the Catholic Information Center, Father Abdo Abu Kasm, denied media reports of an attack against a Catholic bishop, Gregoire Haddad, saying that a group of believers only quarreled with the prelate over
religious matters.
Haddad was confronted last Friday by a group of people while exiting Tele-Lumiere headquarters in Dora, where he was filming his regular program.
Abu Kasm said the two people who were accused of attacking Haddad met with the prelate upon his request to discuss religious matters upon which they do not agree.
The two quarrelled with Haddad at the end of their meeting and Tele Lumiere’s guards guided the prelate to his car, after which he left, according to Abu Kasm.
Abu Kasm also denied media reports that anyone was arrested by security forces as a result of the spat.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Ghazi Aridi condemned the alleged attack against Haddad, calling the culprits “extremists and fanatics.”
A source familiar with the incident said the people involved were fundamentalist Christians who did not share Haddad’s views, which are considered “enlightened.”

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