Relatives of Aazaz hostages on a continuous sit-in

Relatives of Lebanese hostages in Syria Aazaz along with a number of Syrians staged on Saturday a sit-in outside the Turkish airlines offices and the Turkish cultural center in Downtown Beirut and Hamra.

Families of the abductees are set to stage a sit-in on Sunday in South Lebanon outside the Turkish contingent serving in the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

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 families have vowed to continue their movements until all their loved ones have returned home safe and sound.                         

They accuse Ankara of sponsoring the kidnapping and the Lebanese government of inaptness in this regard.           

On April 10, they prevented several Syrian nationals who operate businesses in some Beirut areas from opening shop, stating that such movements symbolize their sense of desperation.             

They also held a major demonstration in Martyrs Square before the Turkish Airline offices whereby they announced that they would be calling for the boycott of all Turkish products in Lebanon since "Lebanon imports a billion dollars worth of products from Ankara on a yearly basis."                 

Since then they have also prevented Turkish trucks from offloading shipments at the Karantina dock.