Note: The views and opinions expressed in blog/editorial posts are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the views or opinions of Misbar.
2020 has been a year of misinformation and fake news for Lebanon. It seems as though the country has faced setback after setback resulting in ever-increasing instability. In order to understand the full gravity of the situation in Lebanon and misinformation being spread about it, it is helpful to examine the events which precipitated the country’s current position.
Last year Lebanon began to fall into a financial crisis, the worst since its civil war. Since October 2019, Lebanon’s currency has dropped in value by a staggering 70%.
Since “no one knows” Lebanon’s financial future, the crisis has been accompanied by a crisis of misinformation. For example, MTV Lebanon News reported that the World Bank warned of Lebanon’s impending collapse.
However, the World Bank said in a statement that they wish to “confirm that it does not issue such predictions and that its economic monitoring, analyses and statements on Lebanon are posted on its official Lebanon Country website. The World Bank has been a long-standing partner of Lebanon and the Lebanese people and reiterates its commitment to support its efforts to address the social, financial and economic challenges it is enduring.”
As with many other countries, Lebanon has also been struggling with misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic. The UN in Lebanon supported a Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) for journalists called “Journalism in a pandemic: Covering COVID-19 now and in the future” to help fight the so-called disinfodemic.
The disinfodemic is potentially deadly. Misinformation about COVID-19 that has been viral in Lebanon and elsewhere can actually kill people.
Further, misinformation about the virus creates a narrative that it has been overhyped by the media and therefore is not as dangerous as believed. For example, social media users have been posting the image below claiming it shows a Lebanese reporter in full hazard gear as evidence that the media overplays the pandemic.
However, the image actually depicts a journalist filming a report on a Beirut factory in March. The reporter wore the outfit to show the type of protective gear produced by the factory.
With stress from the explosion and pandemic, a state of emergency in effect (essentially a declaration of martial law), increased mobilization of aggressive military forces, and a flurry of misinformation about the ongoing situation, it is entirely possible that Lebanon stands at the brink of a fully-fledged revolution or a new civil war.
Misleading and fake news has already escalated about the region’s recent political instability, including claims that Israeli Army Commander-in-Chief Aviv Kochavi was killed during an inspection tour of Northern Occupied Palestine and that Qatar has been financing the delivery of military hardware to Hezollah in Lebanon.
Misbar has strived to help debunk these viral false claims. Readers can view our Lebanon fact-checks and can also use our resources on how to determine whether an image or video has been doctored and how to spot fake news.
We at Misbar hope to fight false news about the continuing Lebanese crisis, and will keep an eye on the developing situation. Readers interested in learning more about Lebanon’s history and how it has created an unstable climate that allows for a proliferation of misinformation may continue reading below.
Lebanon’s History: Instability Sets the Stage for Fake News
Political, religious, and financial instability over many years created a situation in Lebanon that has set the stage for fake news claims.
After gaining independence from the French, Lebanon enjoyed a period of prosperity and international renown with Beirut standing as a center for trade and tourism. However, this was greatly hampered by the collapse of the country's largest bank in 1966.
Additional issues cropped up as a result of the multiple wars between Syria, Israel, and Palestine. Lebanon was located in the middle of the conflict, both geographically and politically. Tensions once again rose between the Christian and Muslim factions of the country as Palestinian and Israeli militants continued their fight within Lebanese borders. Lebanon’s southern border in particular fell into a spiral of violence.
Through a combination of secular and religious conflicts, Lebanon entered a fifteen year long civil war in 1975. Among the main factions were the Lebanese Front, comprised of the dominant Christian Maronites who opposed the Palestinian presence in Lebanon, and the Lebanese National Movement, a progressive and diverse movement allied with Palestinian factions that was later replaced by the Lebanese National Resistance Front.
The Lebanese Civil War was a complicated geo-political event, one which cannot possibly be done justice in a short summary. We at Misbar encourage readers to learn about it further on their own. Ultimately, the conflict resulted in 150,000 deaths, and has been deeply etched into the Lebanese collective memory. Having only resolved thirty years ago, the wounds of the Civil War are still relatively fresh.
Despite a brief period of political and economic independence, Lebanon was once again afflicted by foreign influences. Most notably was that of Syria, which stationed a considerable military presence in the country for three decades. The Syrian military occupation ended in 2005 with the Cedar Revolution, caused by the assai nation of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. A brief, but deadly war erupted between Israel and Lebanon in 2006, resulting in yet more casualties and destruction. The ongoing Syrian Civil War has also caused significant tension in the area.
Since the civil war the Lebanese government has been plagued with corruption, instability, and incompetence, causing frequent public outcry. Regime after regime rose, was challenged, fell, and was replaced by another with a different agenda. At every turn and change of hats, the Lebanese people themselves suffered.
However, we hope that exposing fake news and seeking the truth will help the people of Lebanon as they move forward.
