Al-Rahi: Lebanese Feel Unsafe as Criminals Enjoy Political Protection

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi criticized on Sunday the current state of affairs in Lebanon, noting that the people feel “unprotected” because criminals are allowed to roam free.

He said during his Sunday sermon: “Criminals believes that the state is at their mercy because they enjoy political protection.”

The state should protect the people against murderers and criminals, he demanded.

He made his remarks in wake of Tuesday's stabbing of a civilian at the hands of two assailants in Beirut's Ashrafieh district after a verbal dispute when the victim was with his fiancee.

The perpetrators were arrested that same day.

In January, the Military Tribunal released on bail former Minister Michel Samaha, who was arrested in 2012 after being caught red-handed while smuggling explosives from Syria to Lebanon to carry out attacks in the country.

He was sentenced in May 2015 to four-and-half years in prison, but in June, the Cassation Court nullified the verdict and ordered a retrial.

His release in early 2016 sparked uproar in the country with Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi vowing to refer the case to the International Criminal Court after his demand to refer it to the Judicial Council was unheeded.