Deputy Parliament Speaker Elie Ferzli. (Credit: Fawaz)
BEIRUT — The Mouttahidoun collective (United for Lebanon) presented Thursday before the first investigating judge of the Bekaa, Amani Salameh, a criminal complaint against Deputy Parliament Speaker Elie Ferzli for reasons of “intentional injuries and attempted murder” committed against two protestors during a sit-in which took place on Wednesday in front of parliament.
Here’s what we know:
• On Wednesday, protestors blocked roads leading to Parliament to prevent a meeting of the joint parliamentary committees scheduled to discuss a capital control law. The protestors opposed the law, claiming that it violates their rights as depositors.
• A video circulating on social networks shows Ferzli driving his car towards one of the people blocking the road and hitting another.
• Contacted by L'Orient Today, Haitham Ezzo, a member of Mouttahidoun, said that "the complaint against Ferzli was filed within 24 hours after the events,” which as he said means that “parliamentary immunity does not apply when the appeal is presented within this period.”
• Ferzli told L'Orient-Le Jour that he was not notified of the complaint. He also pointed out that Lebanon is on the eve of public holidays, with Orthodox Easter coming this weekend. The deputy Parliament speaker said that in any case, he is ready to appear before a court, saying he is "a man of the law" who has "great respect for justice.” On the circumstances of the events, Ferzli said that protestors "barred" his way and cut off the route leading to his office in Parliament. "Anyone who hinders a citizen's freedom of movement should expect such a reaction," he added, without specifying whether he had actually hit one of the complainants, named Rami Sleiman Ghandour.