A Lebanese local newspaper was ordered Monday to pay a LL30-million-fine ($20.000) after it was found guilty of libeling and slandering Saudi Prince Talal Bin Abdel-Aziz and his son Alwaleed Bin Talal, reported the Daily Star newspaper.
The court of publications ordered that the amount be divided between Al-Anwar’s responsible director Adib Abi Aql, managing editor Fouad Daaboul, and the newspaper’s publishing house, Dar As-Sayyad.
The court also ordered the newspaper to publish the minutes of its verdict in the first issue following the court decision, said the paper.
Al-Anwar published an article in May 1998 quoting the Central News Agency, on the occasion of a visit by Prince Alwaleed to Lebanon, saying that Saudi authorities had issued a memorandum banning the Saudi media from publishing any news related to either the royal father or the son.
Al-Anwar claimed the memorandum was issued after Prince Alwaleed made statements critical of the Saudi regime.
Saudi officials issued a statement later in which they denied al-Anwar’s allegations, said the paper -- Albawaba.com
