Civil society activist Marwan Maalouf said Thursday that the arrest of some protesters last week was based on a political decision aiming at shutting down the civil movement and preventing citizens from expressing their opinions.
In a statement to LBCI’s Nharkom Said, Maalouf stressed that all protesters are peaceful, deeming the current Parliamentary term as illegitimate.
“Demonstrating outside the House of Parliament is a practice safeguarded by the right to freedom of expression,” he stated, adding that their movements will continue with the waste management issue topping their demands, followed by parliamentary elections.
In the same context, the activist stressed that the law does not permit the trial of citizens before the military court, pointing out that the five detainees are still held on charges of removing barbed wires. “Why weren't the “militia men” who attacked the protesters arrested as well?” he asked.
Eleven protesters were arrested during a protest staged last week Thursday (October 8) on charges of vandalism and assaulting servicemen. Six of them were released a couple of days later, while five remain in custody.
Dozens of activists and relatives of the detainees gathered outside the military court, demanding the immediate release of the arrestees.