- A major in the Lebanese military has been fired for liking a tweet
- The tweet was mocking Saudi women after they were given the right to drive
- Suzan al-Haj Hobeiche had been described as "Lebanon's most powerful woman"
- She claims that she liked the tweet by accident
by Rosie Alfatlawi
A senior Lebanese military official has lost her job after liking a tweet mocking Saudi women.
Major Suzan al-Hajj Hobeiche was dismissed from her position on Monday, al-Arabiya reports, after liking a controversial tweet by controversial Lebanese director and satirist, Charbel Khalil.
جنّوا نطّوا.... pic.twitter.com/g5Rdn7mFka
— Charbel Khalil (@khalil_charbel) September 29, 2017
The news that women are allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia comes lacking, because it only allows them to drive a car if it is booby trapped [rigged with a bomb]
#سوزان_الحاج_حبيش_تمثلني وتسلم الايد الشجاعة إلي كبست عل لايك وخلتنا نعرف إنو لبنان بطّل كرخانه سعوديه! #متضامنة pic.twitter.com/ThHT9nHl9H
— Zeina Karam (@Zeina_Karam) October 2, 2017
As Head of the Cybercrime and Intellectual Property Bureau in the Lebanese military, Hobeiche was responsible for investigating inappropriate social media posts, making the incident even more embarrassing.
The security officer, who had been described as “Lebanon’s most powerful woman” by various media outlets, quickly unliked the tweet and claimed that she had hit “like” by accident.
Hobeiche has reportedly filed a complaint against Ziad Itani, who apparently made a screenshot of her like and distributed it online.
However, Lebanese site al-Akhbar reported that this was not the first time Hobeiche had been in hot water over her online activity.
Her military superiors, it is claimed, had previously requested that she adopt political neutrality on social media.
Ignoring their appeals, she reportedly called politicians “monkeys” in one Facebook post, adding that “Lebanon is lacking politicians and citizens working for its benefit” in another.
- Angry Saudis protest appointment of Lebanese woman in senior post, demand jobs for locals
- Lebanon extends citizenship to foreigners ahead of women
Charbel Khalil himself is no stranger to controversy. In 2006 he sparked demonstrations in Beirut over his spoof of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Later, in 2015, he was taken to court over allegedly defaming Islam with a picture he shared on social media.
He responded to Hobeiche’s dismissal in a tweet:
صدّق أو لا تصدِّق !! #المقدّم_سوزان_حبيش #أشرف #أنجح #أصدق pic.twitter.com/zdaK8azCXE
— Charbel Khalil (@khalil_charbel) October 2, 2017
Believe it or not #Major_Suzan_Hobeiche [is the] #MostHonorable #MostSuccessful #MostUpright
Meanwhile, many on Twitter have taken to Hobeiche's defense:
#سوزان_الحاج_حبيش is my Wonder Woman
— Mustafa Y. Fakhoury (@mustafafakhoury) October 4, 2017
#سوزان_الحاج_حبيش #not_guilty pic.twitter.com/vpynDpMlUl
— Nissa (@nissa_sarkis) October 3, 2017
We Salute u for all the achievements u accomplished Serving this country
— لما عباس غدار (@LamaGhaddar05) October 3, 2017
#اللايك_بالخطأ_مش_جريمة #سوزان_حبيش pic.twitter.com/vF5wpYyf7r
#سوزان_الحاج على الرغم من الاختلاف السياسي مع ال حبيش، لكن ما حصل مع هذه المرأة القدوة هو ظلم. هي أعطت المنصب هيبة و ليس العكس. #سوزان_الحاج_تمثلني
— Nicole Nasr (@nicolejnasr) October 2, 2017
Despite my political difference with Hobeiche, what has happened to this woman is oppression. She gave the position prestige, rather than vice-versa.
