Summoning citizens from Al-Kehali town for interrogation over the crime committed by Hezbollah against their families and town is strongly condemned
Elias Bejjani/August 19/2023
Click here to read the statement in Arabic
Indeed, the popular proverb, “the murdered was satisfied, but the murderer was not”, precisely describes the judicial felony committed yesterday by the “Lebanese army intelligence”, who summoned four citizens from the town of Kehali, for interrogation in regards to the armed and terrorist invasion that their town and citizens were subjected to by the terrorist Hezbollah.
This summoning took place while the murderer who assassinated the martyr Fadi Bejjani in his own town, and in front of his house, was publicly welcomed in the town Al-Hermel, with an armed parade without any judicial intervention. In addition, the Hezbollah members who committed the Kehali invasion and crime are free without even interrogation them.
A press release that was issued yesterday by the municipality of Kehali, rejected the discretionary summons and said, “The interrogation should not begin with the unarmed Kehali citizens who were present at the time of the incident, but MUST instead focus on the armed group that opened fire with machine guns on the Kehali citizens to intimidate them, which the martyr Fadi Bejjani tried to stop, and who was shot dead by armed civilians, where the evidence are shown in audios and videos.” The statement stressed that “the interrogation is a duty to achieve justice, but it must start from another place, so that the victim is not equal to the aggressor.”
In the same context, dozens of statements, tweets, and stances were issued by activists, politicians, and political parties rejecting and denouncing this blatant unfair judicial bias.
In conclusion, there will be no justice in Lebanon without equality between all the Lebanese. In this same realm, its Kehali’s right to refuse the “Army Intelligence summoning”, before arresting and charging the killers of the martyr Fadi Bejjani.
Meanwhile, full solidarity with the unified stance of the honorable and heroic people of Kehali is a patriotic obligation for every sovereign, free and independent Lebanese who demands and honors justice and equality.
Below Reports Related the above statement
*Recent developments in Kahaleh incident probe
LBCI/18 August 2023
*Kahale residents, Hezbollah members summoned for interrogation over clash
Naharnet /18 August 2023
Bassil offers condolences to Bejjani’s family in Kahale
*Naharnet/18 August 2023
Recent developments in Kahaleh incident probe
LBCI/18 August 2023
It was challenging for the residents of Kahaleh town to initiate the investigation into the Kahaleh incident that occurred ten days ago, as its families were questioned. The residents were surprised by phone calls received by four individuals from Kahaleh at 8:30 PM on Thursday from Army Intelligence, informing them of the necessity to go to Yarzeh on Friday morning to provide their testimonies and be heard regarding what happened in the incident. However, these individuals were the ones who appeared in the videos that were circulated on the day of the incident and afterward.
Following these notifications, meetings intensified at the Kahaleh municipality. Furthermore, it was decided not to have the four young men appear before the investigators, and the army was informed of the locals’ stance. In a statement issued by the municipality, they considered it unacceptable to start the investigation by questioning innocent people who were present at that time from the residents of Kahaleh. Instead, the focus should be on the armed group that opened fire with machine guns to intimidate them. This was resisted by the late Fadi Bejjani, who fell to the gunmen’s bullets. The evidence is clear in audio and visual recordings. The statement added that the investigation is a duty to achieve justice. However, it should start from a different angle, as the aggressor and the victim cannot be treated equally. On the other hand, security sources confirmed to LBCI that Army Intelligence listened on Friday morning to a number of individuals who were accompanying the truck belonging to Hezbollah. Moreover, the sources indicated that the number of these individuals is three. The security sources pointed out to LBCI that the summonses are a natural procedure. They mentioned that listening to those who were present on the ground on the day of the incident from both sides is part of the clarification process to understand the details of what happened that day. Therefore, those summoned are not accused but rather witnesses, as the sources explained, adding that the army requested any person present on the ground that day to provide their testimony.
Kahale residents, Hezbollah members summoned for interrogation over clash
Naharnet /18 August 2023
Four residents of the town of Kahale have been summoned for interrogation over the latest deadly clash with Hezbollah members, MTV reported. “The four Kahale residents will not go to the Baabda intelligence department on Friday because they are demanding that those who killed Fadi Bejjani be handed over first,” the TV network added. A statement issued by Kahale’s municipality, residents and dignitaries meanwhile said “it is unacceptable for the investigation to begin with the questioning of the unarmed Kahale residents who were present there, instead of focusing on the armed group that opened its machine gun fire at them to terrorize them.”“This is what the martyr Fadi Bejjani tried to repel,” the statement said, adding that the latter was killed by “the bullets of the armed civilians” and that “the evidence is clear with the presence of audiovisual footage.”“The investigation is a duty to fulfill justice, but it should start somewhere else, seeing as the aggressor cannot be equated with the aggressed against,” the statement said. OTV and MTV meanwhile reported that Hezbollah members have been interrogated by the army’s intelligence directorate over the incident. OTV said those questioned were the truck’s driver and his companion. Kataeb Party chief Sami Gemayel meanwhile said that the summoning of the Kahale residents is rejected, warning against “continuing to undermine equality among the Lebanese.” “Beware that the judiciary become a false witness. We stand by Kahale’s sons, we support the stances issued by them and we will not remain silent over our rights,” Gemayel added. Bejjani and Hezbollah member Ahmed Qassas, both of whom were armed according to videos, were killed in an exchange of gunfire earlier this month after a Hezbollah ammunition truck flipped over on the downhill curve of the international highway that passes through Kahale. The incident started after some residents learned that the truck belonged to Hezbollah. They surrounded it and demanded to know what was inside before a fistfight ensued between two individuals. Footage available online also shows Hezbollah members opening fire and Kahale residents hurling rocks towards the overturned truck and its armed Hezbollah guards. Another video shows a short-distance exchange of gunfire between Hezbollah members and Fadi Bejjani, the Kahale man who was killed in the violence. The identity of the individual who fired the first shot is still unclear.
Bassil offers condolences to Bejjani’s family in Kahale
Naharnet/18 August 2023
Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Friday offered condolences in Kahale to the family of Fadi Bejjani — the man who was killed in the clash with Hezbollah members following the overturn of a Hezbollah truck in the town. Bejjani’s family members are reportedly supporters of the FPM while he was a member of the Waad Party founded by slain ex-minister Elie Hobeika and currently headed by his son Joe Hobeika. Bassil had criticized Hezbollah in the wake of the Kahale incident, saying “the resistance should be embraced by the Lenanese people, or else it would lost its immunity and strength.”He also called for a defense strategy and said “Shiite unity is not enough for the resistance and the country to be in a good situation.”The FPM for its part said that Kahale’s victims fell due to “shortcomings from Hezbollah or the security forces” and warned against “exploitation attempts by politicians and journalists.” Bejjani and Hezbollah member Ahmed Qassas, both of whom were armed according to videos, were killed in an exchange of gunfire after a Hezbollah ammunition truck flipped over on the downhill curve of the international highway that passes through Kahale. The incident started after some residents learned that the truck belonged to Hezbollah. They surrounded it and demanded to know what was inside before a fistfight ensued between two individuals. Footage available online also shows Hezbollah members opening fire and Kahale residents hurling rocks towards the overturned truck and its armed Hezbollah guards. Another video shows a short-distance exchange of gunfire between Hezbollah members and Bejjani. The identity of the individual who fired the first shot is still unclear.
*Elias Bejjani
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
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