In another day of protesting at the homes of Lebanese political officials and defendants in the Beirut blast investigation, the families of victims of the Beirut Explosion stormed the residence of caretaker Interior Minister Mohammed Fahmi.
Families of victims, alongside protesters, are demanding the lifting of immunities of politicians based on the request of Beirut blast investigator, Judge Tarek Bitar, who has decided to prosecute several political and security officials.
Judge Bitar has also asked for permission to question the Chief of General Security, Abbas Ibrahim, however, Fahmi has refused.
On Tuesday night, protesters were able to break through the building gate but riot police immediately intervened to push back the angry crowds. Tear gas was used against the victims’ families and protesters and several injuries were reported.
It is a clear sign from the political class that demanding justice for the August 4 Beirut Port explosion will only result in more harm to the people who have already suffered greatly.
“Innocent people have nothing to fear! Innocent people would appear before the judge,” yelled a protester from the scene.
But that hasn’t been the case with the ruling class waving the flag of immunity at the summon of any and all officials, former and current, many of whom knew about the ticking bomb in the port, the highly dangerous ammonium nitrate.
The stalling and reluctance to lift the immunities, as well as the removal of the previous judge investigating the case and the excuses given to obstruct the investigation, are only telling the people that there is something major the political class is trying to hide.
“They’ve exposed themselves,” said a mourning mother of a blast victim.
Many protesters began to chant the Revolution‘s famous slogan, “The people want the fall of the regime.”
