Lebanese diaspora plan global protests to mark Beirut blast first anniversary
Lebanese diaspora plan global protests to mark Beirut blast first anniversary
A year after the Beirut blast which devastated the country, protests are due to take place across the world, calling for justice and accountability.
4 min read
The Lebanese diaspora have been especially vocal in denouncing the government of Lebanon's murderous incompetence [Getty Images]
A global network of Lebanese diasporais planning worldwide protests on Wednesday to mark the first anniversary of the blast.
Meghterbin Mejtemiin will commemorate the deadly explosion with protests and online commemorations fromSydney to San Francisco, one year after the disaster that devastated Beirut.
On 4 August 2020,2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, unsafely stored atthestate-managed Port of Beirut, exploded. The blast killed more than200 people, injured 7,000 others, and devastatedhalf of the city.
The protesters will not only show solidarity forvictims of the largest non-nuclear explosion in history but also demand transparency and accountability from the Lebanese government.
There are planned demonstrations outside Lebanese diplomatic missions inMontreal, San Francisco, Berlin, Amsterdam, London, Geneva, and Brussels, as well as online protests for places under lockdown, including Australia.A list of local times and places for the protests was posted to .
"The country’s ruling class has [since the Beirut port blast] struggled to respond to its multiple crises, with electricity shortages, unprecedented levels of hyperinflation, and lack of access to essential goods plaguing the country"
Lebanon's humanitarian crisis has worsenedsince the blast. Combined with the ongoing economic crisis since October 2019,, around afifth of the population are now livingin extreme poverty. A much-needed new government is yet to have taken shapeafter partiesfailed to break the political gridlock - hindering access to foreign aid.
Last month, who marched in honour of those that had died in the blast. Hundreds of people gathered outside the home of caretaker Interior MinisterMohamed Fehmiand carried empty carried coffins for a symbolic funeral amid growing anger at the "".
When asked about the importance of the protests, Stephani Moukhaiber, Global Communication Chair of Meghterbin Mejtemiinand a member of their international coordination team in Montreal told , “it all comes down to one thing and one thing only, justice! The fact that there hasn’t been a single person charged for this massacre is utter nonsense, it really is an indicator of our government's level of incompetence and inhumanity”.
Moukhaiber added, “what we demand is clear: lift the immunities and ensure an independent judiciary body to oversee the case”.
The public's frustration for due process and justice has been evident since the blast happened.In the immediate aftermath of the explosion, the uproar intensified after the Lebanese political establishment attempted to evade accountability. Interior Minister Mohammed Fehmi shifted blame to Lebanon's custom department, who subsequently shifted the blame elsewhere. This led to Beirut .
For a proportion of Beirut's citizens, however, this atmosphere was tempered just 48 hours after the explosion. Whilst he consoled crowds, Macron promisedthat "France would never let Lebanon go" and would help rebuild the city. This comment, with overtures of Lebanon's colonial past, also angered many.
Hassan Diab’s government stepped down just six days after the explosion due to this public outcry and anger.Up until July 2021Lebanon was led by acaretaker governmentunderSaad Hariri, who had previously resigned as prime minister after .
On the same day, Diab appointed the Judicial Council - which hasno appeal process - to deal with the case and hasfailed to deliver justice to the people of Lebanon. This failure has and Human Rights Watch, who have urged the Lebanese political establishment and judiciary to bring justice to the victims.
The country's ruling class has struggled to respond to itsmultiple crises, with electricity shortages, , and a lack of access to essential goods plaguing the country. With the resignation of Saad Al-Hariri earlier this month, and announced as the prime minister-designate, Lebanon will have had three premierssince the Port of Beirut Blast.
Sahar Amer is a freelancejournalist based in London. She holds a master's degree in Human Rights, Culture & Social Justice from Goldsmiths,Universityof Londonand her research interests include technology and digital rights.
