Amnesty International calls for dropping accusations against singer Khalife

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Amnesty International urged the Lebanese authorities to "respect the right to freedom of expression and drop charges of 'insulting' Islam lodged against popular Lebanese musician Marcel Khalife." Amnesty International said that bringing Khalife to the court is "a gross infringement of his right to freedom of expression and a violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Lebanon is a state party as well as the Lebanese Constitution which guarantees freedom of opinion."