Justin Salhani is a writer and journalist based in Beirut. Since 2023, he has been a senior producer with Al Jazeera Digital, where he covers politics and society in Lebanon and Syria. He is also Nonresident Fellow at TIMEP focusing on misinformation and disinformation in the Levant for 2025-26. He has been covering the region since 2011 and has reported from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, France, Italy, and the United States. Justin has also contributed to Time Magazine and Dial Magazine and is a regular contributor and host for the From the Periphery Media Collective’s podcast series. His media appearances include Al Jazeera, BBC, CBC, France 24, Times of London radio, among others. In 2022, he was a finalist for the Samir Kassir Press Freedom Award.
Project:
State-building, & post war tensions in Lebanon and Syria
My research project explores the actual workings of the seemingly obvious notion that justice is needed for any kind of state building process to be successful. Transitional Justice is a buzzword in international relations and organizations. The literature is vast. This project focusses on Lebanon and Syria after the 2024 war and the fall of Bashar al-Asad. Drawing on examples from history, I interrogate how local and international media communications (including mis/disinformation) affect this political process. My analysis extends to both internal tensions and actions taken by regional players.
In Lebanon, the new government of Nawaf Salam and Joseph Aoun are attempting to state authority to every corner of the country. Some commentators claim this is reminiscent of the Chehabist era after the short civil war of 1958. As for Syria, many narratives are forming in the void where transitional justice sits. According to Eugene Rogan's book The Damascus Events, the 1860 Massacre in Damascus was caused by the spread of disinformation by political elites fearing class uprisings. The Ottomans used economic incentives to bring calm, which draws parallels with today's new Syrian authority pushing for sanctions relief. The hope is that economic prosperity will overcome other troubles but I ask, what is the relationship between prosperity and justice.
