The office of Mr. Adnan Addoum, general prosecutor, issued a statement to the press following his meeting with Ms. Liz Hodgkin and Mr. Ordesse Hamad of Amnesty International on Friday, May 5, 2000. Mr. Addoum was quoted, inter alia, as telling the Amnesty International delegates the following:
"Mr. Addoum pointed out that we (meaning Lebanon) are one of the countries that are most respectful of the freedom of speech."
"With regard to the prosecution of attorney Muhamad Mugraby before verifying whether his statements were true, Mr. Addoum stated that there are authorities with jurisdiction that have the mission of checking the truth about the alleged sayings and doings of some judges. An attorney who is supposed to know the law has no right to give open press conferences targeting judges openly and charging them with acts that may not be true. This by itself is a criminal offence punishable by law. He may not, under the title of safeguarding the interest of justice attack judges directly or indirectly."
On her part, Hodjkin confirmed that the defense rights of the Awnist students during their trial were secured and they were not subject to any violence.