High Military Court in Lebanon Declares Lack of Jurisdiction,
Centre for Democracy & the rule of law
Beirut 15/4/06
Drops Charges against Human Rights Attorney Dr. Muhamad Mugraby
Beirut, April 15, 2006: All charges against human rights defender and lawyer Dr. Muhamad Mugraby were dropped by a higher military court on Saturday noon, apparently in response to a world wide campaign condemning his prosecution. Dr. Mugraby had been charged with the crime of "defaming the military establishment and its officers." The trial in this case was set for Monday, April 17, 2006. To assist in his defense the Dutch Lawyers For Lawyers Foundation sent a delegation of seven lawyers from Amsterdam, namely Willem van Manen, Leo Spigt, Christien Wildeman, Judith Lichtenberg, Ilan de Vré, Jens van den Brink, and Gerrard Boot. The delegation also included a member of the British House of Commons, Julian Brazier. Observers from various international human rights organizations have been gathering in Beirut to attend the trial, now canceled.
The Military Court of Cassation held that the statements of Dr. Mugraby at the European Parliament were general, comprehensive and highly critical of all Lebanese state authorities and agencies without exception. The court added that such statements were not directed specifically against the military justice system or its officers and hence did not constitute the crime provided under Article 157 of the Military Justice Code. Dr. Mugraby, acknowledged the court, considered the statements to fall within his right of free _expression.  On another front, the organizers of the rally called for the morning of April 17th near the military court building in support of Dr. Mugraby announced that they are going ahead with it as part of the continued action in support of human rights and democracy in Lebanon.  Attorney Muhamad Mugraby has called for a press conference jointly with his Lebanese and European lawyers, representatives of human rights organizations, and British MP Julian Brazier, on Monday April 17th, at 12:00 noon at the Meridien Commodore Hotel, Hamra, Beirut, to discuss the impact of the ruling.
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