Aswad Files Lawsuit Accusing Protesters of Injuring His Bodyguard
MP Ziad Aswad of the Strong Lebanon bloc on Friday filed a lawsuit with the Mount Lebanon prosecution through his lawyer Antoine Atallah.
The National News Agency said Aswad is suing the protesters Habib Najem, Alain Waked, Wajdi al-Arja, Rabih al-Zein, Carlos Zgheib, Ghassan Bustani, Michel Bustani, Charbel Zgheib aka Charbel Younan and Roger Akiki on charges of “harming one of his bodyguards and vandalizing public and private property.”
A clash had erupted Wednesday evening between anti-government protesters and supporters of MP Aswad and the Free Patriotic Movement outside a restaurant the lawmaker was having dinner at in Jounieh.
Aswad had tweeted that one of his bodyguards was injured after being run over by a car carrying protesters.
“They tried to storm the place and one was carrying a visible gun that was handed over to the Ghazir police station after which it turned out that it is semi-real,” Aswad tweeted on Thursday.
A circulated video meanwhile showed supporters of Aswad beating up and insulting a young man and telling him he had no business being in Keserwan since he hails from Tripoli. The video also shows a car with smashed windows.
A group of lawyers had on Thursday filed a lawsuit against Aswad’s bodyguards and supporters, accusing them of “inciting hatred and sectarian and regional strife” and calling for their arrest and prosecution.
Anti-government protesters have targeted several politicians in public places in recent weeks, mostly at restaurants. The protesters have argued that politicians should not engage in leisure activities at a time the country is facing its worst financial and economic crisis since the civil war.
Lebanon has been rocked by protests since October 17 demanding a complete overhaul of a political class which activists say is inept, corrupt and motivated by personal gain.
The demonstrations have reduced in size in recent weeks.
08 February 2020, 11:51
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IF an MP or minister is to file such a lawsuit, they should have their immunity revoked. These guys file lawsuits right and left just to make themselves look good.
Remember Abi Khalil who filed hundreds of lawsuits against anyone who said anything against the FPM electricity plan--how much did that cost the Lebanese treasury and citizens.
08 February 2020, 13:31
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It reminds me of the old quote from Louis XVI upon being informed in 1789 that the French people had stormed the Bastille. The King asked, “Is it a revolt?”
“No, sire,” the duke replied, “It is a revolution.”
Unfortunately, our beloved drooling king in Baabda and his son in law have no idea that it is even a revolt the country is passing by.
The revolution is coming and its reign of terror as well as its dictator that will follow (a standard outcome of a revolution since 1789), and heads will fall and rulers will pay the cost of their corruption in blood if not in cash.
