The Libyan Organization for Independent Media called the new executive authority to respect freedom of the press

Libyan Cloud News Agency – Tripoli

The Libyan Organization for Independent Media condemned the expulsion and mistreatment of journalists of local and international media organizations by the security forces of Benina Airport in Benghazi on February 11, 2021.

The journalists came to the airport for media coverage of the visit of the new President of the Presidential Council, Mohammad Menfi to Benghazi.

The head of the media office of Menfi, Rabea Khalifa, had invited some journalists of local and international media organizations to come to the airport to cover the visit.

A reporter said that he came to the airport with the correspondents of Russia Today, Libya Al-Hadath Channel, Al-Mustaqbal Channel, The Associated Press, AFP, Libya National Channel, Reuters, 218 TV and Libyan Al-Masdar Agency, but the guards at the airport expelled them without any clarification.

The reporter added that the head of the media office of Menfi switched off his phone and did not give reasons for preventing the journalists from coverage.

The Libyan Organization for Independent Media denounced these practices, which it described as unprofessionalism and arbitrary methods against journalists.

It called on the new Presidential Council and the Government of National Unity to respect and protect freedom of the press by allowing journalists to work freely and facilitate procedures to access information, and stop the bureaucratic and security obstacles inherited from the previous regime.