Police officers try to control the crowd at the Riad Solh Square demonstration in Beirut on Sept. 30, 2023. (Credit: Hassan Assal)
BEIRUT — Amnesty International on Wednesday called on authorities in Lebanon to "urgently investigate" an assault on Saturday afternoon's protest in downtown Beirut against the recent crackdown on personal and political freedoms in Lebanon.
"The Lebanese authorities must urgently investigate the violent premeditated assault during a freedom march on 30 September organized by more than 24 civil society organizations to protest the recent crackdown on personal and political freedoms in Lebanon," Amnesty International said in a statement. "The investigation must also include security forces’ abject failure to protect protesters from the attack," it added.
Amnesty said that video evidence and testimonies from three eyewitnesses indicate that members of the Internal Security Forces present on the scene failed to intervene to stop dozens of attackers on motorcycles throwing stones at protesters, shouting homophobic insults at them and physically assaulting them during scuffles lasting nearly an hour.
At least two protesters were hospitalized for face and eye injuries sustained during the assault, Amnesty said.
“There must be an urgent investigation into the attack on protesters who were simply exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, including into the failure of security forces to protect them. The wholly inadequate response of the security forces is all the more shocking given the violent assault waged against peaceful protesters,” said Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.
None of the aggressors have been arrested, despite some of them bragging openly on social media about their actions and threatening further attacks should future rallies be organized in support of rights and freedoms for all, Amnesty added.
Dozens of attackers had been waiting for the protesters when they arrived at the meeting point in downtown Beirut to start the march. Scuffles between protesters and the assailants lasted for an hour, the statement also said, adding that the ISF unsuccessfully attempted to create a buffer between them but did nothing further to stop the attack.
Several protesters who were attacked and beaten told Amnesty International that they are considering filing complaints but are still contemplating the risks they may face. A lawyer supporting the protesters told the organization that people were “rightfully afraid."
Attacks against marginalized groups, such as the LGBTQ+ community, have become more frequent in recent months.