MP Bilal Hocheimi accuses Geagea of ‘sectarian incitement’

BEIRUT — Zahle MP Bilal Hocheimi on Sunday criticized remarks made by Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea, who referred to Sunni parliamentarians as “monkeys,” calling the comments a sign of “moral decline,” “unacceptable sectarian incitement,” and an “insult” to “an entire community.”

Hocheimi called for the removal of the video containing the remarks and demanded “public apologies,” warning that he would otherwise resort to “political and judicial measures,” according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA, official).

Speaking to Radio Liban Libre, Geagea addressed the withdrawal of his Strong Republic bloc during the July 16 parliamentary session, a move that prevented the adoption of the general amnesty law and legislation abolishing the death penalty. The session took place as the Sunni community remained divided over the proposed amnesty law.

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LF back amnesty law supported by most Sunni MPs

Some Sunni MPs have pushed for the release of as many detainees as possible, including Ahmad al-Assir, who has been imprisoned since 2015 over his involvement in deadly clashes with the army in Abra in 2013. Most of these MPs boycotted the session. Others have called for the swift adoption of the amnesty law, including Nabil Badre (Beirut), Walid Baarini (Akkar), and Hocheimi, who attended the parliamentary session.

Baarini described the amnesty issue as a “fundamental question that cannot be neglected or delayed,” rejecting any attempts to obstruct its adoption. He added that supporting those affected requires “concrete action, not just media statements,” according to the NNA.

In a statement released Thursday, the LF reaffirmed its support for an “amnesty law backed by consensus among the majority of Sunni MPs.” The party argued that “the real objective of certain MPs was to push through a partial version of the amnesty law that lacked the support of all Sunni MPs and only excluded a specific category of detainees, serving Hezbollah’s interests.” It accused those same parties of attempting to “distort the facts and mislead public opinion” to conceal this reality.