Forces of Change MP Cynthia Zarazir who entered a Byblos bank branch seeking her own savings stands inside a bank in Antelias, Lebanon Oct. 5, 2022. (Credit: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters)
BEIRUT — Forces of Change MP Cynthia Zarazir filed a lawsuit against parliamentary police and Lebanese Army soldiers on Saturday for "repeated attacks against protestors" and "intentional hurt" and other crimes.
In a Twitter post, Zarazir said the lawsuit, which was filed in cooperation with the Reform organization in the Court of Cassation, will be followed up with a draft law in Parliament to propose the disbandment of the parliamentary police.
Zarazir said this measure would "hand over the authority of the Parliament's security to the legitimate forces."
On Sept. 26, videos circulated on social media showing Zarazir being pushed during a protest outside Parliament, though it was unclear whether she was confronted by protesters or parliamentary police.
Parliamentary police is an entity independent from the rest of Lebanon's security forces, operating according to a non-classical structure and hierarchy. The 240-strong police force is directly run by the office of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and is responsible for securing the perimeter of Parliament.
Earlier this week, Zarazir entered a Byblos Bank branch in Antelias, Mount Lebanon, to forcibly recover part of her blocked savings to pay for a surgery, the MP told L'Orient Today by phone.