Lebanon's Ad-Diyar newspaper editor arrested in the UAE

The Lebanese newspaper, AD-Diyar, revealed that its editor Charles Ayoub was arrested in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for unknwon reasons.

A flash news on Ad-Diyar's website said that Ayoub "was arrested in the United Arab of Emirates by Dubai police."

The paper pointed out that Ayoub had left Lebanon to visit his daughter in Dubai.

No further information was given about his whereabouts or the reason behind his detention.

The Lebanese Press Syndicate has issued a statement condemning "Ayoub's arbitrary arrest," describing him as a "free and independent journalist."

Al-Diyar newspaper has published over the past months several reports criticising the UAE authorities over the expulsion of a number of Lebanese citizens on "terrorism charges."