The families of those arrested in connection to the Oct. 14, 2021, Tayyouneh clashes blocked the road at the Tayyouneh roundabout. (Credit:NNA)
BEIRUT — The families of those arrested in connection to the clashes in Tayyouneh on Oct. 14, 2021, blocked the road at the Tayyouneh roundabout in Beirut on Tuesday.
The demonstrators burned tires to protest the continued detention of their loved ones amid an army deployment in the area, the state-run National News Agency reported.
The father of detainee Ali Mubarak said his son "is suffering from health problems inside Roumieh prison," and demanding his release. The mother of another detainee, Bilal Al-Salloum, said her "son is suffering from poor health conditions," according to the NNA.
The Tayyouneh clashes began during a protest called by Hezbollah and the Amal Movement to demand the removal of the lead judge in the port blast investigation, Tarek Bitar. The clashes are thought to have escalated when someone from the Ain al-Rummaneh area started firing on the crowd. The clashes left seven dead, all of whom were close to Amal and Hezbollah.
Fifteen Ain al-Rummaneh residents were arrested shortly after the clashes, following a decision made by Judge Fadi Akiki, the government’s commissioner to the military court. Akiki summoned Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea for investigation, but he refused to appear and instead accused the judge of serving Hezbollah’s interests.
Lawyers for the detainees later asked for the case to be transferred and Military Court Judge Fadi Sawan assumed responsibility for the case. After carrying out his investigations, Sawan gradually ordered the release of the detainees, but a few more remain behind bars.