Calls to hold Wednesday night’s attackers accountable
- The Public Prosecution’s Office in Beirut transferred its case against the Jounieh attackers to the police intelligence. This came after a group of lawyers filed a case following Wednesday night’s attacks, whereby MP Ziad Aswad’s supporters attacked and insulted protesters in Jounieh.
- Beirut’s Investigative Judge also filed lawsuits against Samer Sidaoui, a supporter of Aswad, on charges of insulting the Shiite sect. Former Minister Ashraf Rifi also filed a lawsuit against Aswad and his supporters Friday morning.
- All three lawsuits included the charges of inciting sectarian strife, committing crimes related to religion, and infringement on civil liberties.
From the streets, an alternative policy statement
- The Li Haqqi campaign presented an alternative policy statement after its meeting in Martyrs’ Square. The statement demanded “a complete restructuring of public debt, repealing Banking Secrecy laws, lifting immunity off MPs and ministers, and reclaiming public properties.” It also called for “canceling restrictions on deposits lower than 75 million LBPs and other restrictions on transfers from expatriates.”
- The Consumer’s Association also released a statement in response to Hassan Diab’s, stating: “my mandate will not fall behind on repaying the Eurobond settlement”. The association emphasized the risk of repaying “4.8 billion dollars in settlements during the first half of the year, half of which are external,” adding that “this settlement would wipe out what is left of depositors’ money in the Central Bank.”
The Higher Defense Council to escalate counterrevolutionary measures
- The Higher Defense Council, which met Friday morning in Baabda Palace, adopted escalatory stances towards rioters. President Michel Aoun insisted on strict measures against any attempt to threaten the “authority of the state, its institutions, and its official headquarters." Prime Minister Hassan Diab also called for preemptive measures against “disruptive actions”.
- Meanwhile, the Government Commissioner to the Military Court, Judge Peter Germanos, will submit his resignation to Justice Minister Marie Claude Najm next Tuesday. He denied in a statement that his motives were related to him not being invited to the Higher Security Council meetings. According to him, his resignation was due to family-related issues.
Arrest warrant issued against activist Rabih el Zein in absentia
- Judge Ghada Aoun issued an arrest warrant against activist Rabih el Zein, accusing him of inciting to burn banks and the Free Patriotic Movement’s office.
- El Zein's lawyer received a call Friday morning from the court in Baabda informing him of the warrant. He then submitted a medical report that excused el Zein from attending due to health reasons. However, Judge Bassam el Hajj considered the report an inadequate excuse.
- El Zein was released a few days before, but the new warrant comes following an appeal by Judge Aoun.
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