Comedian Shaden Fakih targeted by religious authorities for prayers sketch

Lebanese comedian and LGBTQ advocate Shaden Fakih, known for her critical and often provocative humor targeting religious authorities and political sectarianism in Lebanon, has faced backlash for her satirical content. Recently, her sketch on Friday prayers ignited controversy, leading to multiple legal complaints against her.

Fakih, who is openly gay and popular online for her critical stance against the religious and political status quo in Lebanon, has stirred discontent among many in Lebanon. This reaction comes despite the nation’s image as a relatively progressive society within the Arab world.

Legal actions intensified last Friday when the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council lodged a criminal case against her, accusing her of blasphemy, insulting religious practices, and inciting sectarian conflict, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA).

Similarly, Islamist representative Imad Hout has filed a complaint, and the grand mufti, Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan, instructed the leading Sunni religious body, Dar al-Fatwa, to also pursue legal action. The accusations from Dar al-Fatwa include blasphemy, provocation of religious and sectarian discord, and threatening national unity.

Currently, the judiciary has not reviewed the complaints due to the absence of the relevant judge, as per a judicial source.

The potential prosecution of Fakih has sparked significant concern among human rights activists. Jad Shahrour from Beirut’s Skeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom condemned the actions against her, highlighting the severity of using threats and legal action to suppress individual expression.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of legal challenges faced by entertainers in Lebanon over their work. For example, another Lebanese comedian, Nour Hajjar, was recently detained for a brief period due to a joke made five years prior. In 2021, Fakih herself was summoned by a military court on allegations of insulting the Internal Security Forces and damaging their reputation.