Lebanese influencer Dr Food released from prison after amnesty law comes into force
The Lebanese social media influencer known as Dr Food has been released from prison after the country's general amnesty law came into effect. Dr Food, whose real name is Georges Dib, had been sentenced earlier this year to life in prison for drug trafficking. He was released on Thursday, with footage posted online showing him being greeted in his hometown in the northern governorate of Akkar. The…
Dr Food, the Lebanese social media influencer with over 8.5 million TikTok followers, has been released from prison following the implementation of the general amnesty law. Real name Georges Dib, Dr Food was sentenced to life in prison for drug trafficking earlier this year. Footage showed his release on Thursday as he was greeted in his hometown of Akkar in the northern governorate.
He amassed his massive following by selling branded confectionery and pastries. Prosecutors accused him of hiding hundreds of kilograms of hashish inside food products intended for export to the Gulf. Dr Food had been on the run for nearly two years, altering his location, vehicles, and phone number while continuing to post on social media.
He briefly handed out food to displaced individuals in Beirut in March. His case garnered significant attention in Lebanon. The amnesty law was designed to alleviate overcrowding in Lebanese prisons, which currently have a population of 8,500 but can only accommodate 4,500 inmates. The law took effect on Thursday, allowing drug offenders convicted before March 1, 2026, to be released.
However, the amnesty does not apply to crimes such as terrorism, premeditated murder, and rape. This was Lebanon's largest amnesty following the 1975-1990 civil war, which pardoned most fighters.
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