BEIRUT: The Beirut Bar Association is facing a chorus of criticism over what are seen as attempts to muzzle lawyers.

The controversy deepened as Lebanese lawyer and human rights activist Nizar Saghieh appeared before the association鈥檚 council on Thursday.

Saghieh, who advocates for the independence of the judiciary, was summoned after publicly protesting a decision by the association to prevent lawyers from speaking publicly to the media without authorization.

He faces the threat of sanction, including possible disbarment.

The association also summoned two lawyers on Monday for violating the decision issued several ago.

Lawyers, opposition parties and civil society bodies have condemned the association鈥檚 measures, describing them as 鈥渁n attempt to stop free expression.鈥�

The battle for freedom inside the association has sparked growing public interest.

In parallel to Saghieh鈥檚 hearing, several lawyers, activists and journalists protested in front of the association鈥檚 headquarters, holding banners saying: 鈥淪ociety鈥檚 right to knowledge and justice.鈥�

In a joint statement, Fadlo Khuri, president of the American University of Beirut, and Salim Daccache, president of Saint Joseph University, condemned 鈥渢he systematic harassment of some human rights activists, journalists, academics and opinion-makers.鈥�

They warned against 鈥渢he seriousness of practices that limit the freedoms directly recognized by the Lebanese constitution.鈥�

Khuri and Daccache said that the two universities 鈥渨ill spare no effort to constantly push for the flourishing of bright and free minds, by creating an environment for constructive dialogue on their campuses and between the various aspects of the society.鈥�

They added: 鈥淭his is the basis of Lebanon鈥檚 advantage in the region.鈥�

Saghieh, founder of Legal Agenda and member of the bar association for 29 years, said before attending the hearing on Thursday that 鈥渉e cannot defend social rights within his profession without resorting to the media,鈥� adding that 鈥渢oday he is defending every free lawyer.鈥�

He said: 鈥淚ntimidation is the goal of today鈥檚 summons. If any action is taken against me today, it should be considered an intimidation for all lawyers.鈥�

An online petition was also launched by activists, who expressed 鈥渄eep concern over the association鈥檚 attempt to restrict the freedom of lawyers and subject it to the prior authorization of its president.鈥�

The association鈥檚 decision 鈥渃ould prevent a generation of lawyers from performing their duties and defending human rights and community issues,鈥� they added.

Activists also condemned 鈥渢he summons of Saghieh, who is among the most prominent jurists in the pursuit of judicial and legal affairs.鈥�

The bar association appears to be softening its stance in the wake of growing criticism.

On Tuesday, rather than take harsher action, it merely advised lawyers Youssef Al-Khatib and Hussein Ramadan to avoid 鈥渆xposing the association鈥檚 secrets by circulating them through the media.鈥�

Meanwhile, demonstrators in Khalde, south of Beirut, blocked roads late on Wednesday, attacked several cars and fired shots in the air in protest at rulings issued by the military court overnight concerning the 2021 clashes between armed members of Khalde鈥檚 Arab tribes and members of the Hezbollah-backed Resistance Brigades.

The clashes left four Hezbollah members dead and dozens injured.

The rulings targeted detainees from Khalde鈥檚 Arab tribes and excluded Hezbollah鈥檚 members whose participation in the clashes is documented.

Rulings included capital punishment and jail sentences.

Judge Sheikh Khaldoun Araymet, head of the Islamic Studies Center, condemned 鈥渢he unjust sentences issued against young members of the Arab tribes, as they are issued directly by the Hezbollah court, and not by a free Lebanese military court.鈥�

He said that 鈥渢he Hezbollah-backed Resistance Brigades are always above the law and accountability,鈥� adding that 鈥渢his is not how countries, justice and citizenship are built.鈥�

In a separate incident, airport customs on Wednesday detained Youssef Khalaf, a Jordanian businessman, as he was leaving Beirut for London on a private flight, after $3.5 million was found in his luggage.

A judicial source told Arab News that Khalaf, who was referred to the Financial State Prosecutor Judge Ali Ibrahim, was released.

However, he was banned from traveling and remains under investigation over the money, which he failed to declare.