By Spring Joudi | Contributing Writer
As Israel continues its assault on the people of Gaza and the South of Lebanon, we witness a rise in repression and a mounting death toll among the Palestinians. Local student protests started a street campaign on the 8th of January and went to multiple bridges in Beirut with campaign posters. The students demanded a ceasefire, accountability for occupation-related crimes, and the reclamation of the Lebanese state to protect its citizens from the ongoing threats and dangers. As they raised these banners they got verbally assaulted by a group of thugs. Two student activists, in a video shared on Mada’s Network Instagram and X, stated, “Once we arrived at the Ring Bridge,10 men on motorcycles telling us we aren’t allowed to direct any criticism nor remark towards Hezbollah and that if we didn’t leave they are going to kill us. After the shoving and death threats (threatening to kill us), they confiscated the (poster) from us. Today, politics is no longer allowed…”.The verbal assault didn’t stop there but masses of Hezbollah supporters rushed to defend the attacking group. The dialogue under the X post quickly morphed into a display of aggression and censorship, where the discussion ceased to be about the assault but rather became a blatant attempt to diverge into a misogynistic red herring. Another activist, Karim Seifeedine, who reported having his ankle sprained because of this incident, recounted that there were “Between 10-15 young men who told us that these posters need to be taken down and didn’t even ask but were initially aggressive with their request”. Karim further explained that they were told “If you don’t leave in this second and if you don’t give us this poster we will start beating you up”.
Lebanon has been witnessing the absence of effective governance characterized by a lack of state initiatives and protections for the South and its residents, but also a situation where its livelihood and security are being increasingly rendered under the control of Hezbollah. The newest government budget that was recently approved had no mention of protection or aid to civilians being bombed in the south, signalling a clear passing over of the role of protection from the state to the armed resistance. At the core of this blindness about what is happening in the South of Lebanon lies a more pervasive undercurrent of sectarian biases in turn, providing political leverage for not only Hezbollah but also all sectarian parties to interfere.
In such a climate, it becomes increasingly vital to recognize the importance of individual liberties and freedom of speech, ensuring the protection of rights and allowing for the free exchange of ideas. The right to protest has been ensured constitutionally but increasingly seems to be challenged by certain groups, political parties, and non-state actors.
As the lives of the people in South Lebanon and Palestinians in Gaza are under constant threat of Israeli bombardment, and as Lebanese and Palestinian journalists are risking and losing their lives while attempting to report the realities on the grounds, an increasing trend of censorship and backlash while addressing these issues has presented itself on the Lebanese public realm.
The right to protest and speak out not only sheds light on critical issues and presents alternative views but also actively contributes to dismantling hierarchies of fear that prevail and are imposed in society. An attack on one group’s freedom is an attack on all, and with the preservation of individual liberties, rights, and freedoms, societal harmony, and progress can thrive, and with their repression, the potential for societal stagnation and injustice looms large.
References:
https://www.arab-reform.net/publication/lebanons-student-movement-a-new-political-player/#
https://x.com/madanetworkleb/status/1744417813190656427?s=46&t=6ozexE2C0eHSxd3NhxV8mA
References from the Instagram post by Mada.
https://cpj.org/2024/02/journalist-casualties-in-the-israel-gaza-conflict/
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/12/lebanon-deadly-israeli-attack-on-journalists-must-be-investigated-as-a-war-crime/
https://twitter.com/madanetworkleb/status/1744417813190656427?s=46&t=6ozexE2C0eHSxd3NhxV8mA