HRW slams ‘gross negligence’ in murder investigations, alleged hijab discrimination, Aoun lashes out: Everything you need to know to start your Friday

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Human Rights Watch condemned “gross negligence” in four “politically sensitive” murder investigations in Lebanon. In a damning report published on the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Hezbollah critic Lokman Slim, the rights watchdog found gross negligence and procedural violations in the investigations of his murder as well as those of Joe Bejjani, Mounir Abou Rjeily and Antoine Dagher. It further concluded that “generous donor funding and training” to Lebanon’s security forces and judiciary have not resulted in establishing the rule of law. No suspects or motives were identified in any of the four cases, despite the fact that the murders were committed near residential and densely inhabited areas, or in broad daylight, according to the victims’ families. The four murders are seen as “politically sensitive” due to some of the victims’ access to sensitive information and others’ vocal criticism of powerful people and groups. Aya Mazjoub, Lebanon researcher at HRW, warned that these unsolved murders and “shoddy” homicide investigations are a stark reminder of “the dangerous weakness of Lebanon’s rule of law in the face of unaccountable elites and armed groups.” France, the European Union and the United States yesterday used the anniversary of Slim’s murder to call for justice to be served in this assassination case.

A pop-up shop at ABC Achrafieh closed after the mall allegedly asked it to dismiss a hijab-wearing employee. The management of Full House has claimed that on Wednesday, the mall’s management asked it to dismiss a saleswoman who wore a hijab to work. The shop opted to shut down instead. People quickly took to social media to express their outrage at ABC’s apparent request, saying that the mall was discriminating against women who wear hijabs. Rather than putting out an official statement, ABC responded to a direct message from one social media user, stating that while their policy accepts all tenants regardless of their religious beliefs, their internal policy “forbids all religious public displays and symbolic items/accessories.” It remains unclear whether ABC admits to Full House’s claim.

President Michel Aoun lashed out at political rivals Samir Geagea, Walid Joumblatt and Riad Salameh in an interview with Lebanese daily Al Joumhouria. As the end of his term approaches, with new presidential elections scheduled to take place in October of this year, Aoun took the opportunity to fan the flames by making a few candid comments about Joumblatt and Geagea, as well as central bank chief Salameh. In response to a question about Joumblatt’s persistent criticism of him throughout his presidential mandate, the Free Patriotic Movement founder referenced the Progressive Socialist Party leader’s known penchant for political flip-flopping, accused his historic main Christian rival, Lebanese Forces leader Geagea, of being all talk and no action, and took advantage of this interview to once again criticize the central bank governor over the lagging forensic audit of Banque du Liban. The president assured that he would leave his post as planned on Oct. 31 “even if the new president is not immediately elected.”

The cabinet is scheduled to meet next week in Baabda to approve the 2022 draft budget, acting Information Minister Abbas Halabi said following a cabinet meeting yesterday. The cabinet agreed to adjust the customs dollar exchange rate to align with the central bank’s Sayrafa platform rate in the 2022 budget, exempting food and medicine imports in the decision, Halabi added. The approval of the advance noted in the draft budget for the electricity sector was postponed until a reform plan is presented to cabinet in a special session. Following their weekly meeting, Hezbollah MPs said yesterday that they are opposed to the imposition of any new taxes in the budget and stressed “the need to allow depositors to withdraw their money” from banks without issuing policies that favor those responsible for keeping people’s deposits, “be it the state, the banks or the central bank.”

Akkar villages are struggling with an almost total shutdown in mobile and internet services from the Alfa and Touch telecom companies in the region. According to L’Orient Today’s correspondent in the North, fuel shortages have affected the private generators that supply electricity to several telecom stations in several villages in the Akkar area. The head of the municipality of al-Qarqaf, Yehya al-Rifai, criticized the fact that officials have failed to respond to their complaints. Phone and internet services have experienced repeated cuts in recent months across the country.

The head of the land transport unions, Bassam Tleis, announced yesterday the cancellation of the third and final day of a planned strike, which was scheduled for today. “The union has canceled the strike scheduled for tomorrow. All actions are suspended for a period of 15 days, while we meet to decide on the measures to be taken,” Tleis said in a press conference yesterday. The strike, which was meant to continue on Thursday and Friday, only took place on Wednesday as Tleis, who is affiliated with the Amal Movement, said he wanted to give the government a chance to work on the reforms demanded by his sector.

In case you missed it, here’s our must-read story from yesterday: “The possibility of a single alliance: Lebanon's opposition groups ponder how viable a united front is in upcoming polls”