Protesters Ask for 'Justice' for Islamist Prisoners, Vow 'Intifada' and 'Vengeance'
Hundreds of protesters demanded on Sunday that trial procedures be accelerated for Islamist prisoners, who have been held in Roumieh prison without charge since 2007, and vowed an uprising and “vengeance” against the authorities.
“We ask today for justice or else let them (officials) burn in hell,” they said at the protest held in downtown Beirut's Martyrs Square.
The protest was given a boost by controversial Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir, who came along with his supporters from the southern city of Sidon to Beirut to attend the rally.
"We are being treated this way because we are members of the defeated (Sunni) sect," said al-Asir in a speech.
He called for “an Intifada to end the hegemony.”
He also accused some judges at the military court of coming under political pressure, saying “we don't have trust in your magistrates and your tribunal.”
Addressing President Michel Suleiman and every official, al-Asir said: “Release them immediately because we don't accept that they be tried after being seized for six years.”
Most other speakers at the protest warned the Lebanese authorities that the families and supporters of the detainees “won't remain silent” and will “take vengeance.”
“They should be released through fair trials,” they said, adding they would call for compensations.
Pretrial hearings for 86 Islamists were held at Beirut's Justice Palace earlier this month, the first legal action taken by the Lebanese judiciary ahead of their trial.
Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi has promised speedy trials for the Islamists without political intervention.
Sunday's protest caused bumper-to-bumper traffic at Beirut's entrances, mainly in Dora, after security forces set up checkpoints ahead of the event.
The Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon was almost totally destroyed during a months-long conflict between the Lebanese military and the al-Qaida-inspired group Fatah al-Islam in 2007.
The fighting killed some 400 people, including 168 soldiers.
Some Islamist leaders escaped despite the army siege of the camp.
The inmates were arrested on charges of fighting or aiding the Fatah al-Islam fighters in Nahr al-Bared that lies near the northern coastal city of Tripoli.
Several of them have escaped from Roumieh in daring prison breaks.
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