The National News Agency reported that the single penal judge in Beirut, Fatima Majed, who oversees juvenile cases, issued an urgent decision related to the harassment and rape of several minors via social media applications. The decision states: "Upon reviewing and following up on the file related to minors who were subjected to harassment and rape after being lured through social media applications, including TikTok, which is still under review and follow-up by the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau under the supervision of the Public Prosecution in Mount Lebanon, and based on information about a large number of victimized minors, and in light of the role of the juvenile judiciary in protecting minors from being placed in an environment that jeopardizes their health and safety, according to Articles 25 and 26 of Law No. 422/2002, and based on Article 46 of the aforementioned law, which exclusively grants the juvenile judiciary the authority to take any final measures concerning minors at risk needing protection.
In light of the fact that more than five days have passed since the investigation into the file began, and the absence of the juvenile representative present with the minors during their hearing thus far in submitting to the competent court, namely, the juvenile court, the required form relating to each minor heard, detailing their circumstances, social status, and all issues related to the risks they may have been subjected to or are still facing, in order to take the necessary protective measures.
Thus, based on Article 26 mentioned earlier, which allows the juvenile judge to intervene automatically in cases requiring urgency, it is decided:
1. To assign juvenile representative Joslyn Farhat, who is responsible for attending the initial investigations in the aforementioned file, to submit to the court a detailed form regarding the status of each minor heard in the context of the investigation regarding harassment or rape or luring, provided that their residence falls within the jurisdiction of this court, namely, the Beirut Governorate, within a maximum period until Tuesday, May 7, 2024, and that the chairperson of the court be informed of the submissions through the court clerk or directly via WhatsApp due to the urgency and necessity that necessitate this in order to undertake the necessary measures and procedures in this context.
2. To assign the juvenile representative in Beirut, Nasreen Farhat, to communicate with the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau to inquire if there are other minors exposed to any form of luring, threats, harassment, or rape who refuse to attend hearings, in order to reach out to them to encourage their attendance and reassure them while explaining all necessary procedures to protect them. She is also tasked with providing her phone number 03/723183 to receive any calls from any minor who has been subjected to the aforementioned issues and assist them in providing their testimonies, ensuring that they reside within the Beirut Governorate or referring them to the competent representative based on their residence, and to inform the court of all communications and submit a detailed form regarding the status of each minor.
3. To draft a letter to the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, requesting the administrations of public and private schools, institutes, and high schools to conduct awareness sessions on the topic of social media and applications used by minors, explaining their harms, risks, and negative effects, and encouraging them to inform their parents or teachers or social counselors at school or high school about what they are facing on these applications, for the sake of protecting minors and based on their best interests, similar to the letter previously sent by this court on January 17, 2023, to the Ministry of Education after the emergence of the phenomenon of organizing and participating in musical concerts by minors that involve alcohol consumption, and the harm they are subjected to which poses risks to their health and safety.
4. To notify the relevant parties of the current decision."
