02/06/2026
PEN Lebanon Statement on the Protection of Journalists, Writers, and Cultural Heritage
(Beirut, June 2026)
PEN Lebanon expresses its profound alarm and condemnation at the killing of journalists and media workers, the loss of literary and cultural figures, and the destruction and endangerment of cultural heritage sites during the ongoing war in Lebanon.
The targeting of journalists, writers, artists, intellectuals, and cultural institutions strikes at the very foundations of freedom of expression, cultural diversity, and the right of peoples to preserve and transmit their memory, identity, and heritage. Such acts inflict harm not only upon individuals and communities but upon humanity’s shared cultural legacy.
PEN Lebanon further expresses grave concern over the broader human, cultural, and urban devastation resulting from the conflict. Beyond the loss of life and the damage inflicted upon cultural heritage, the destruction of historic neighborhoods, cultural landmarks, educational spaces, and the built environment undermines the social fabric of communities and threatens the continuity of Lebanon’s cultural memory and identity. These violations affect not only individuals and institutions but also the collective cultural and civic life upon which societies depend for recovery, resilience, and peaceful coexistence.
PEN Lebanon reaffirms its commitment to the principles of peace, dialogue, cultural rights, and the protection of writers and journalists everywhere and further calls for:
• The immediate protection of journalists, media workers, writers, and cultural practitioners operating in areas affected by conflict; the obligation to respect United Nations Security Council Resolution 2222 (2015) concerning the protection of journalists, media professionals, and associated personnel in conflict situations.
• Independent, transparent, and impartial investigations into the killing of journalists and attacks against cultural and educational institutions.
• Implementation of the provisions of the 1954 Hague Convention and its Protocols, as well as relevant UNESCO decisions concerning the safeguarding of Lebanese cultural properties under enhanced protection.
• International cooperation to document, preserve, and restore damaged cultural heritage and to support affected cultural communities.
Culture is not collateral damage. Journalists are not targets. Heritage is not a battlefield.