A Lebanese journalist at Tele Liban has been forced to resign from the state-owned television channel after being banned from appearing on air for wearing a hijab (an Islamic veil).

Zeinab Yassin, who was an employee in the social media department, suddenly stopped appearing on air after reporting on Israel’s aggression on Lebanon for 10 months, Al-Akhbar Arabic-language newspaper reported.

The daily cited sources as saying that Yassin was denied a transfer to the correspondents’ department due to her Hijab, despite her strong performance. The paper noted that the issue required “a political decision.”

During a closed meeting of Lebanon’s Minister of Information Paul Morcos and the administrators of the TV channel, Pauline Yammouni, the minister’s adviser, brought up the issue of Yassin, saying “Hijab does not resemble the air of Tele Liban and it is a religious symbol,” according to the daily. 

In her resignation letter to the information minister, Yassin referred to the decision as discriminatory.

The Committee to Support Journalists also condemned the decision to prevent Yassin from joining the correspondents’ team, stating that it represents a blatant violation of freedom of belief.

It also called for “a transparent and urgent investigation” into the incident to hold those responsible for this decision accountable.

According to its statement, the committee also urged a review of the TV channel’s policies to ensure their alignment with Lebanon’s constitution and the government’s pledge to remove barriers to women’s participation in public life.

The case of Zeinab Yassin is reportedly the latest in a series of sectarian problems in Tele Liban.

Last year, economic presenter Nada el-Hout was banned from her TV show after she wore hijab, sparking nationwide anger, according to al-Akhbar.

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