2023-09-30 17:25:40
A new violation of freedoms took place in Lebanon on Saturday, this time represented by an attack on the “March of Freedoms” that was planned to start from Riad Al-Solh Square in the center of the capital, Beirut, towards the Ministry of the Interior, under the title “For a complete guarantee of our freedoms and in response to successive violations.”
The march, which was organized by associations, organizations, and media and human rights institutions, was attacked by young men riding motorcycles who embarked on a counter-march under the slogan “Protect your family,” where they called for “the imposition of correct values and morals, and the refusal to defend the rights of gay people.”
“The assailants claimed to support the march for gay rights, and they used that as a pretext to demonize it, prevent it from completing its path, and justify assaulting its participants and besieging some of them,” as confirmed by Widad Jarbou, a researcher and journalist at the Samir Kassir Foundation, stressing in an interview with Al-Hurra website that “a number of deaths were recorded.” Among the wounded activists and abuses and violations once morest media crews, including journalists and photographers, whether by those who rejected the march or by security elements who obstructed their work.”
The primary goal of the march, according to Jarbou, is to “stand once morest the suppression of freedoms, reject prosecutions, lawsuits, and summons once morest those with opinions, and stress the necessity of adhering to the Lebanese Constitution, which guarantees freedom of opinion and expression, as well as adhering to international legislation and laws,” calling on the security services to “protect press and media crews and hold the aggressors accountable.” “.
After the voices of threats and threats increased, and to preserve the safety of the participants in the march, the groups organizing it preferred to limit themselves to a sit-in in the center of the capital, Beirut, while pledging “to continue the struggle in defense of public and private freedoms,” according to what was stated in a statement read by feminist activist and journalist Hayat Murshad, “ “In order to preserve the right of individuals and groups to express their opinions and ideas and exercise their convictions, so that Lebanon remains a homeland of freedoms, and a homeland for all without exception, regardless of their intellectual, cultural, social, and ideological differences.”
Lebanon has recently witnessed “a systematic and unprecedented suppression of freedom of opinion and expression by the authorities,” according to the statement, as “investigative summons for crimes of defamation, slander, and contempt once morest activists and journalists have increased, once morest the backdrop of publications that highlight the corruption of the ruling system and demand accountability, or because of content that criticizes the religious and political authorities.” And security, and art, culture, and science were not spared from the fear of intellectual diversity, and the Public Prosecution was creative in prosecuting professors, artists, playwrights, and comedians, thus reducing theater and cinema.”
This attack was not surprising, according to Jarbou, “and this is following the incitement that has escalated in the recent period once morest everyone who defends freedoms and marginalized groups in society, including members of the LGBT community, and therefore hate speech is the main cause and driver of what we witnessed today.”
The organizers affirmed their adherence to the highest levels of expression, demonstration, establishment of associations, and movement, as “this natural right is linked to our right to human dignity.”
Riot control entered its vehicles into Riad Solh Square, “and worked to gather the female demonstrators in the “Freedom March” in vehicles to remove them from the square following they were besieged by the unruly gangs,” according to what the “Partner But” organization reported, which was uploaded in a post via Her page on the “X” website, “Responsibility for what happened, and what is not unlikely to become a dangerous pattern of threatening freedoms and lives alike, for everyone who participated in inflammatory speeches, and incited violence, discrimination and hatred,” stressing that “Interior Minister Bassam Al-Mawlawi bears direct responsibility.” For his primary role in mobilizing gangs and inciting them once morest female citizens.”
Attacking freedoms is “the last shot for this authority,” according to the statement. For this reason, the organizers warned once morest continuing to use methods of repression and attacks on public and private freedoms, calling for the immediate implementation of the provisions of the Constitution, the strengthening of texts guaranteeing freedoms, and the repeal of texts that criminalize insult, defamation, and peaceful assembly.
Freedom of opinion and expression constitutes the most prominent pillars of a democratic state, as stated in the statement: “People’s voices and their needs are the compass, and freedoms are Lebanon’s advantage, and we are all called upon to preserve this advantage, and this matter cannot be compromised.”
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