Relatives of Lebanese detainees in Syria’s Aazaz held a demonstration on Monday outside the offices of the Turkish Airlines in downtown Beirut and closed the road across the Turkish Cultural Center to protest the failure of the release of the Lebanese pilgrims.
In this regard, the hostages' spokesperson, Hajja Hayat Awali urged President Michel Sleiman to call upon the Turkish Ambassador to Lebanon, Inan Auzildise, within 48 hours in order to find a solution for this situation "or else the relatives will close the Beirut International Airport".
For his part, Sheikh Abbas Zgheib assigned by the Shiite Islamic Council to follow up on the case of the Lebanese abductees in Syria called on political parties to stand in solidarity with the relatives of the detainees.
In regards to the dispute that erupted between security forces and the demonstrators, Sheikh Zgheib said that the scuffle was immediately solved adding that the Lebanese General Security Chief Major General Abbas Ibrahim did not neglect from his duties.
As for calling upon the Turkish Ambassador to find a solution for the issue, Sheikh Zgheib said that this is a righteous demand and called on security apparatuses to cooperate with the relatives.
“Turkish authorities are to be blamed if the relatives of the detainees held non-peaceful movements,” Sheikh Zgheib concluded.
Eleven Lebanese pilgrims were kidnapped on their way back from Iran by insurgents hoping to use them for a prisoner swap on the 22nd of May. Only two have so far been released.
Their relatives have since held several demonstrations across Lebanon in a bid to exert pressure on authorities in hopes of securing the release of their loved ones.