HOME
Print
ShareJune 17, 2013
In light of recent developments, the following named individuals met together to deliberate and craft a response: Majed Fayyad, Mona Fayyad, Rashed Hamade, Khalil al-Khalil, Mohammad Matar, Shawki Safieddin, Ibrahim Shamseddin, Lokman Slim, Ghaleb Yaghi, Yussef Zein. After reflecting on the events of the past several days, they have agreed to declare the stances set forth in the following:
• The signatories have discussed the recent killing of a young man, Hashem As-Salman, just outside the Embassy of Iran in Beirut. They condemn, in general, any means of suppressing public liberties and find that even the best-chosen words fall remarkably short of adequately describing their condemnation of the actions that led members of the security apparatus of an [allegedly political] organization to murder a Lebanese citizen. The actions taken that day represent a decisive violation of one of the most elemental privileges of citizenship guaranteed by the State. In broad daylight, Hashem As-Salman was killed and his colleagues assaulted. A few brave photojournalists dared to document this offensive act with their cameras, after which they made their visual narratives available to both the Lebanese public and the State's judiciary.
The least we can ask for as citizens who take their rights seriously is that the Lebanese judiciary perform its duty by apprehending those who committed these crimes—regardless of the alibis behind which they hid—and applying the full measures of due process and justice. That decisive response will not only help the family and friends of Hashem As-Salman find peace, but it will also reinforce and protect the basic right of all Lebanese citizens to express their opinions freely. The enactment of swift and conclusive justice will demonstrate the State's refusal to accept this killing, as was justified later, as having resulted from “spontaneous” furor. Further, appropriate action by the State will evince its absolute rejection of the notion of "impunity."
• The signatories to this statement have also discussed the missile attacks that targeted locales in the Hermel region and caused a number of civilian casualties. They considered as well the bloody tensions that have occurred in some regions of the Bekaa, events that indeed are omens of an ominous future. As the signatories believe that they are sufficiently familiar with the general context within which these acts of violence are taking place, they remind all involved that “No bearer of burdens shall bear another's burden” (Quran; Fater: 18), and that no one shall bear the sins of others. More precisely, they advise all Lebanese that Hezbollah's armed intervention in Syria, actions the aforementioned organization describes openly and justifies by leveraging a wide range of arguments, is simply a product of its own political agenda. Such involvement violates the State’s sovereign right to command its foreign policy in war and peace. Further, it disregards the Baabda Declaration, in which the Lebanese agreed to keep "Lebanon neutral from the politics of axes and regional conflicts." In this sense, Hezbollah’s involvement in Syria binds only the entity carrying it out and does not express under any circumstances the interests of the Lebanese in general, the Lebanese Muslims or even more particularly, the Muslim Shiites.
• The political nature of Hezbollah’s involvement in Syria and the interests which motivated that action should draw the focus and response of both the Islamic and Arab worlds. Ultimately, that involvement is unrelated to religion or confession. It would be a grievous mistake to be overcome with confusion and argue that this intervention derives from religion or related doctrines, and then use that misperception to pit entire communities against each other. Subsequently, the signatories call upon decision makers in the Arab States, particularly the Gulf countries, to recall unfailingly this political and interest-oriented dimension. In doing so, they can avoid forcing all Lebanese or all Muslim Shiites to bear the responsibility for the politics being practiced by that single organization.
• Finally, the signatories listed below reiterate that the parliament's arbitrary extension of its mandate runs counter to the general will of the Lebanese public. Its intransigence dilutes the national interest, represents a misuse of power and demonstrates an unprecedented accretion of official responsibilities.
In light of recent developments, the following named individuals met together to deliberate and craft a response: Majed Fayyad, Mona Fayyad, Rashed Hamade, Khalil al-Khalil, Mohammad Matar, Shawki Safieddin, Ibrahim Shamseddin, Lokman Slim, Ghaleb Yaghi, Yussef Zein. After reflecting on the events of the past several days, they have agreed to declare the stances set forth in the following:
• The signatories have discussed the recent killing of a young man, Hashem As-Salman, just outside the Embassy of Iran in Beirut. They condemn, in general, any means of suppressing public liberties and find that even the best-chosen words fall remarkably short of adequately describing their condemnation of the actions that led members of the security apparatus of an [allegedly political] organization to murder a Lebanese citizen. The actions taken that day represent a decisive violation of one of the most elemental privileges of citizenship guaranteed by the State. In broad daylight, Hashem As-Salman was killed and his colleagues assaulted. A few brave photojournalists dared to document this offensive act with their cameras, after which they made their visual narratives available to both the Lebanese public and the State's judiciary.
The least we can ask for as citizens who take their rights seriously is that the Lebanese judiciary perform its duty by apprehending those who committed these crimes—regardless of the alibis behind which they hid—and applying the full measures of due process and justice. That decisive response will not only help the family and friends of Hashem As-Salman find peace, but it will also reinforce and protect the basic right of all Lebanese citizens to express their opinions freely. The enactment of swift and conclusive justice will demonstrate the State's refusal to accept this killing, as was justified later, as having resulted from “spontaneous” furor. Further, appropriate action by the State will evince its absolute rejection of the notion of "impunity."
• The signatories to this statement have also discussed the missile attacks that targeted locales in the Hermel region and caused a number of civilian casualties. They considered as well the bloody tensions that have occurred in some regions of the Bekaa, events that indeed are omens of an ominous future. As the signatories believe that they are sufficiently familiar with the general context within which these acts of violence are taking place, they remind all involved that “No bearer of burdens shall bear another's burden” (Quran; Fater: 18), and that no one shall bear the sins of others. More precisely, they advise all Lebanese that Hezbollah's armed intervention in Syria, actions the aforementioned organization describes openly and justifies by leveraging a wide range of arguments, is simply a product of its own political agenda. Such involvement violates the State’s sovereign right to command its foreign policy in war and peace. Further, it disregards the Baabda Declaration, in which the Lebanese agreed to keep "Lebanon neutral from the politics of axes and regional conflicts." In this sense, Hezbollah’s involvement in Syria binds only the entity carrying it out and does not express under any circumstances the interests of the Lebanese in general, the Lebanese Muslims or even more particularly, the Muslim Shiites.
• The political nature of Hezbollah’s involvement in Syria and the interests which motivated that action should draw the focus and response of both the Islamic and Arab worlds. Ultimately, that involvement is unrelated to religion or confession. It would be a grievous mistake to be overcome with confusion and argue that this intervention derives from religion or related doctrines, and then use that misperception to pit entire communities against each other. Subsequently, the signatories call upon decision makers in the Arab States, particularly the Gulf countries, to recall unfailingly this political and interest-oriented dimension. In doing so, they can avoid forcing all Lebanese or all Muslim Shiites to bear the responsibility for the politics being practiced by that single organization.
• Finally, the signatories listed below reiterate that the parliament's arbitrary extension of its mandate runs counter to the general will of the Lebanese public. Its intransigence dilutes the national interest, represents a misuse of power and demonstrates an unprecedented accretion of official responsibilities.