REPORT: Judge Abou Ghida rejects release of 5 protesters; activists pitch tents before military court

Civil society activists blocked on Tuesday the road across the military court to protest Judge Riad Abou Ghida’s decision to keep 5 activists under detention.

Consequently, they announced an open-ended strike, pitching tents outside the military court.

During their protest, the activists prevented the vehicle of MP Kamel al-Rifai from crossing said road.

Earlier, lawyers defending civil society activists filed release requests on behalf of five protesters over last week's confrontations with police in Beirut.

On Monday (October 12) the military court ordered the release of six protesters who were accused of vandalism and assaulting policemen during an anti-government demonstration last week, but kept five others in custody.

Among the detainees are Waref Sleiman, Fayez Yassine, Hussein Ibrahim, Pierre Hashash, and Rami Mahfouz.