
The northern entrance to Achrafieh, May 6, 2024. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/L'Orient Today)
BEIRUT — Facing a growing feeling of insecurity, Beirut MP Nadim Gemayel (Kataeb) is looking to relaunch the Neighborhood Watch initiative in Achrafieh, in which residents of the locality take security into their own hands.
"The Eyes of Achrafieh," the name of the initiative, was established by the Achrafieh 2020 association on Nov. 7, 2022, with the stated aim of safeguarding residents. However, its resemblance to civil war-era vigilante groups raised concerns among critics. Nadim Gemayel, who spearheaded the initiative, told L'Orient Today that the initiative was discontinued in July 2023 due to insufficient funds.
Last Wednesday, the MP announced on his X account the potential relaunch of the Neighborhood Watch initiative, after residents placed "high demand" to bring it back.
"Initiatives such as 'The Eyes of Achrafieh' Neighborhood Watch aim to ensure the minimum level of safety and reassurance, in light of thefts and security breaches," Gemayel said on X. "This initiative today needs the participation and support of all the people of Achrafieh and Beirut. We rely on our family and comrades."
The relaunch of Neighborhood Watch is contingent on raising enough funds, "around $500,000, which covers costs for six months," Gemayel told L'Orient Today, adding that he is appealing to residents of the area to pay $25 a month to cover expenses.
In the last month, a number of violent crimes have hit the headlines, including a video of a robbery in which two young men shot a grocery store owner in Achrafieh. Lebanon's economic and political crisis has led to a perceived surge in crime rates. Although data from 2023 indicates a recent decline compared to the peak years spanning from 2020 to 2023, it remains much higher than pre-crisis data.
"The responsibility of the project lies on the residents of the area, as they are the ones demanding this, we just chose to be part of it and handle the technical side," the MP said.
Technical details
Gemayel told L'Orient Today that the roughly 240 recruits will not be carrying firearms and will be equipped with only “a flashlight, a baton, a walkie-talkie and a whistle.”
They will also be coordinating with security services when emergencies arise, the MP added.
The economic crisis has severely impacted Lebanon's security services, slashing the purchasing power of soldiers and police personnel due to the plummeting value of their wages.
A spokesman for the Internal Security Forces (ISF) did not respond to a request for comment. Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud also did not respond to a request for comment.
Achrafieh is divided into nine to 10 zones, according to Gemayel, who said fees from at least 400 apartments in each zone need to be settled in order for the Neighborhood Watch guards to be assigned to cover said zone. The Neighborhood Watch will not be able to cover zones whose residents choose not to settle the fee, he added.
Those who wish could pay more, he said, adding that the program will be "fully audited and transparent."
Most of this money will go toward paying the recruits "$200 per month." Gemayel said 30 guards will be covering each zone every day from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., with each guard covering a six-hour shift.
The entire project will be monitored by Amn security company, which will manage logistics and train young recruits, Gemayel said. Guards will be wearing vests adorned with the logos "Achrafieh 2020" and "Neighborhood Watch."
Members of the Neighborhood Watch guard an area in Achrafieh, November 2022. (Credit: Akram Nehmé)
Controversy
For critics, the Neighborhood Watch appearance has drawn comparisons to the civil war era, characterized by state collapse and militia dominance.
Gemayel's father, Bachir, led the main Christian militia during the civil war until he was assassinated in 1982 after being elected president.
In a post on Reddit in 2022, the initiative was both welcomed and criticized by citizens. "I don't usually have any issue with neighborhood watch programs, but this brings back civil war vibes," user Alifad wrote.
"If they are keeping the streets quiet, stopping loud mopeds, loud cars, etc. then it's good," user Terewawa said. "If they are stopping random persons, harassing foreigners, photographers, and being generally paranoid and violent without valid reason then it's bad new[s]."
This initiative is not the first of its kind.
In January, Lebanese MP Ghassan Hasbani (Lebanese Forces) unveiled a digital app, which Achrafieh residents could use to report potential crimes to law enforcement. Hasbani aimed to address what he saw as a surge in "unlawful activities" in Achrafieh, including property occupation, illicit rentals, and undocumented labor, as stated to The New Arab.
The app sparked controversy among critics who said it carried anti-Syrian sentiments. Many people have been blaming the perceived increase in crime on Syrian refugees and incompetent authorities and security agencies.
In a report released on April 25, Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused Lebanese authorities of arbitrarily detaining, torturing and deporting Syrians, including activists and army defectors, violating international human rights standards.
At the start of 2022, faced with an increase in thefts, residents in Halba, Akkar, also organized themselves into groups to stand guard during the night and protect their locality. Other residents did the same in other villages in Akkar. These initiatives have been generally well accepted by residents, but criticized for the risks of abuses that they raised in a country still marked by the presence of sub-state militias.