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International human rights organizations say a court ruling in Lebanon that freed human rights activist Muhammad Mugraby was a major civil rights victory.
A group of 11 Lebanese and international organizations said Thursday that by ordering all criminal slander charges against the lawyer to be dismissed, a Beirut criminal court helped support the fight for freedom of expression, a Human Rights Watch release said.
Mugraby was facing charges in relation to a 2003 speech he gave to a European parliament delegation. In the speech, the prominent lawyer openly criticized the Lebanese government and railed against the use of torture in interrogations.
Judge Ziad Mkanna ruled a week ago that Mugraby had only been using his constitutional right to free expression.
Speaking from Beirut, the human rights contingent called upon the Lebanese government to accept the same stance. The government has several other legal attacks against Mugraby in the works, the release said.
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