Lebanese Authorities Detain Animal Rights Activist Over Defamatory Video

Lebanese judicial authorities have detained a self-proclaimed animal rights activist since this morning following the circulation of a video that falsely incriminated a member of the clergy. The detainee, identified as Ghina Nahfawi, stands accused of spreading defamatory content online.

According to the incident details, children in Al-Azounya village, located in the Aley district, tied a dog to the rear of an elderly man's vehicle without his knowledge. The man drove approximately 100 meters before hearing the animal and stopped to release it from its restraint. However, the individual filming the scene captured both the dog being tied to the vehicle and the man subsequently freeing it—yet chose to share only the portion depicting the dog's attachment, omitting the moment of its release.

When confronted with the complete sequence of events, Nahfawi declined to remove the edited footage. The video sparked a campaign of public ridicule and accusations against the targeted individual, whose full name was disclosed and amplified by Nahfawi, with particular emphasis placed on his status as a religious figure. The man's identification and the accompanying vilification prompted judicial intervention.

Authorities characterized Nahfawi's actions as part of a pattern in which animal welfare concerns serve as a pretext for publicly shaming individuals. The detention marks another instance in what officials describe as a recurring tactic by the activist.