Interior minister seeks dissolution of pro-Hezbollah art association
Following the controversy sparked by the illumination of the iconic Raouche Rock with images of slain Hezbollah chiefs Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Sayyed Hashem Safieddine, Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar on Friday demanded the dissolution of the Lebanese Art Association-Rissalat.
Hajjar accused Rissalat of violating a memo by Beirut’s governor, the assembly notice it had submitted, “the laws that govern public properties” as well as public order, noting that it did not have “an authorization or prior permission” to illuminate the rock.
According to MTV, Hajjar’s request has been placed as the second article on the agenda of the cabinet session that will be held on Monday.
The illumination of the iconic rock stirred controversy and division in recent weeks, as Prime Minister Nawaf Salam urged local authorities to prevent any unauthorized usage of landmarks.
A Lebanese official told AFP that Hezbollah had "obtained the authorization" of the local authorities for the gathering on the Raouche seaside corniche "but without illuminating the rock."
In a statement last Thursday, Salam said the organizers had "clearly violated the accord" with the local authorities, adding that he had requested the perpetrators' arrest.
A Hezbollah representative confirmed to AFP that the organizers had only requested permission for the gathering.
He said it was unclear which agency had authority to give permission for the light show on the rock and that they considered it was covered by "freedom of expression" under Lebanon's constitution.
The event was a show of force by the Shiite militant group and political party, which suffered serious blows in last year's war with Israel and has been under domestic and international pressure to give up its remaining arsenal since then.
Hajjar has said that it was not possible to halt the rock illumination activity due to the huge number of Hezbollah supporters who attended the event.
Source: Naharnet
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