Army Says Continuing to Pursue Migrant Workers Accused of 'Harassing Citizens'
The Army Command on Thursday announced that its troops continue to pursue migrant workers “of several nationalities” who are accused of “encroaching on the dignities of citizens,” one day after Human Rights Watch said troops acted “like a gang” during a raid on a Beirut residence inhabited by migrant workers.
In a statement it released, the Command revealed that they are still receiving complaints asking to suppress and draw and end to these incidents in various Lebanese cities.
“We encourage all citizens to come forward and report any kind of abuse or harassment,” the statement said, emphasizing on the Army's continuous efforts to “preserve people's interests”.
The army's statement comes after HRW urged Lebanon to probe and punish army and intelligence officials behind alleged beatings of Egyptian, Sudanese and Syrian migrant workers during the raid.
The organization said the alleged abuses occurred on Sunday during a raid by armed forces on a residence in the Ashrafiyeh neighborhood of Jeitawi, with troops assaulting at least 72 men following unofficial complaints of sexual harassment in the area.
The Army Command had released a statement on Wednesday as a response to HRW's report, saying that it rejects any insults against the military institution “under the excuse of the rights of migrant workers, whose rights must not come at the expense of Lebanese men and women targeted by harassment.”
The statement added that the army was “surprised by the resistance of these workers and their violent confrontation of the troops who were tasked with checking their IDs and work permits”.
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