La Veranda Restaurant: Has Gerando Become a Media Role Model for National News Outlets?
The case of La Veranda restaurant on Ain Diab Corniche is not a coincidence nor just an ordinary commercial dispute; it is an organized campaign that started with paid individuals. The first to ignite this was one Hicham Gerando, who chose to tie the name of the restaurant manager to high-ranking officials in a clear attempt to politicize the issue and implicate state institutions in a conflict unrelated to them. Thus, the matter shifted from a professional disagreement to systematic defamation, which some national platforms picked up and followed suit, contributing to the harm without adhering to the basic principles of journalistic ethics.
It is unfortunate that some believe that pressuring the judiciary can be done through articles, as if merely writing accusations is enough to alter the course of justice. This is a dangerous mentality that not only damages the reputation of those targeted, but also shakes the image of the rule of law itself. Defamation does not disappear, even if the judiciary later vindicates the victim; the damage has already occurred, and reputations have been tarnished before public opinion.
The reality is that behind this campaign are interests linked to the new development plan for Ain Diab Corniche, which has disturbed many parties. A clear question arises: who is threatened by the continuation of an investment project that has lasted over 11 years and employs dozens of families? Who benefits from tarnishing the reputation of a woman who stood firm against pressure and maintained her project?
What is happening today is not just a difference of opinion, but a miserable attempt to blackmail the project owner and push her to retract. However, the stakes are greater than a restaurant on the corniche; it is a matter of judicial independence and the state’s ability to protect its investors from paid writers and orchestrated campaigns. Either the judiciary confirms that it is above all pressures, or we face a dangerous message that influence can exploit the media to settle scores and manipulate justice.
