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Asharq Al-Awsat
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Legal Complaints Target Hezbollah Officials in Lebanese Courts
Legal complaints are mounting against Hezbollah officials in Lebanon, accusing them of threatening national security and inciting violence against citizens, calling for the disarmament of all non-state actors, including the powerful Iran-backed group. The latest complaint was filed by Sami Gemayel, head of the Kataeb Party and an MP, against Hezbollah's deputy chief for the Bekaa region, Faisal Shukr. In the filing submitted to the Court of Cassation, Shukr is accused of 'death threats, inciting violence and sectarian strife, and endangering Lebanon's sovereignty and unity.' The complaint centers on remarks made by Shukr during a speech at a Hezbollah-organized Ashura procession in the Bekaa on July 6. 'Whoever calls for disarming the party, we will rip their soul out,' Shukr said in a video now submitted as evidence. Gemayel's legal team argued that the speech amounted to 'direct incitement to violence and civil strife,' calling for Shukr's arrest and prosecution. This is the second high-profile legal action against Hezbollah in recent days. A group of lawyers, journalists, and activists had earlier filed a complaint against Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem. The complaint cited Qassem's open declaration of support for Iran during its confrontation with the United States following the Gaza war. The plaintiffs say his statements constitute 'a direct threat to Lebanon's state policy' and 'an incitement to rebellion that endangers Lebanese lives.' While these legal actions may not advance quickly, observers say they mark a significant shift in Lebanon's political landscape. For years, few dared to challenge Hezbollah through the courts - even after the group's 2008 military takeover of parts of Beirut and a string of political assassinations targeting its critics. But the judiciary, which once routinely dismissed complaints against the group, is now formally registering them. A judicial source told Asharq Al-Awsat that while investigations depend on the strength of the evidence, claims that the judiciary is biased in favor of Hezbollah are 'not entirely accurate.' 'All serious cases are documented,' the source said. 'But summoning individuals for questioning is easier when their whereabouts are known. That's not always the case with Hezbollah officials.' Beyond high-level political disputes, a number of Lebanese citizens, particularly southerners living abroad, have begun filing lawsuits against Hezbollah for allegedly endangering civilians during the recent war. The complaints accuse the group of storing weapons under residential buildings and digging tunnels beneath homes without the owners' knowledge, which plaintiffs say turned these areas into targets for Israeli airstrikes. A legal source said many lawyers refused to take on these cases for fear of reprisals by Hezbollah supporters. 'Some plaintiffs were attacked simply for inspecting the ruins of their homes,' the source said, adding that business owners also claimed their shops were looted during the conflict and blamed Hezbollah for failing to protect property in areas under its control. However, the judiciary has not yet launched formal investigations into these complaints. The legal source acknowledged that lawsuits filed against Hezbollah as an organization, without naming specific individuals, make it harder for courts to initiate proceedings. The growing number of complaints reflects what some legal experts call a historic shift. Political activist and lawyer Elie Kairouz said the public is beginning to shed its fear of challenging Hezbollah, as the party's once-firm grip on the state, security agencies, and judiciary weakens. 'The old consensus that the army, people, and resistance form Lebanon's defense doctrine is gone,' Kairouz told Asharq Al-Awsat. 'Today, the government is calling for exclusive state control over weapons and is working to enforce that.' He said Hezbollah's narrative of defending Lebanon and deterring Israel has lost traction along with the reverence once attached to its weapons. 'The real turning point,' he said, 'will be when courts stop merely registering these lawsuits and begin issuing rulings. Only then can Lebanese citizens be truly protected.'
Nahar Net
5 days ago
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Gemayel files complaint against Hezbollah official over threats to civil peace
by Naharnet Newsdesk 14 July 2025, 12:53 Kataeb leader Sami Gemayel filed Monday a complaint against Faisal Shukr, a senior Hezbollah official in the Bekaa region. The complaint alleges that Shukr's public speech on July 6, 2025, during Hezbollah's Ashoura procession, included direct threats to kill those who call for disarming the party, incitement to violence, and sectarian rhetoric. In the speech, Shukr told the Lebanese who want to take Hezbollah's arms, "we will take your souls," adding that weapons are sacred to the group and linking Hezbollah's disarmament to the liberation of Palestine. "We will not disarm before Zionists leave Palestine," Shukr said.
Asharq Al-Awsat
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Lebanese Parties Warn Against Hezbollah Keeping Light Weapons
A recent proposal circulating in Lebanon that would allow Hezbollah to retain its light weapons while surrendering heavy and medium arms has triggered widespread political backlash, with critics warning it poses a grave threat to state sovereignty and public safety. The suggestion, floated amid long-running debate over the group's arsenal, argues that other political parties and armed groups also possess light weapons for various reasons. But key political factions have rejected the idea outright, citing Lebanon's bloody past and the potential for renewed violence. Opponents of the proposal have pointed to the events of May 7, 2008, when Hezbollah fighters overran parts of Beirut and Mount Lebanon in a show of military force, underscoring the dangers of allowing any non-state group to keep arms. 'Classifying weapons as heavy, medium or light is useless,' said Kataeb Party leader Sami Gemayel in a post on X. 'If heavy arms threaten Lebanon's regional security, light weapons are even more dangerous to the foundations of the state.' Gemayel reiterated that only the Lebanese army and legitimate security forces should bear arms, calling for the country to be entirely free of weapons held by non-state actors. MP Ghada Ayoub, of the Lebanese Forces-led "Strong Republic" bloc, echoed that view, insisting the state must assert full sovereignty over all Lebanese territory and outlaw any form of armed presence outside the official security apparatus. 'There is only one armed group operating outside the state, and that is Hezbollah,' Ayoub told Asharq al-Awsat. 'It must become a purely political party and clearly, unequivocally declare an end to its military activity.' Ayoub also criticized recent remarks by Hezbollah Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem, who vowed the group's 'resistance' would continue 'without asking anyone's permission.' 'The Lebanese state is responsible for enforcing a monopoly on the use of arms,' she said. 'It must stop playing the role of a mediator or hiding behind the fear of war and internal strife. Time is not on Lebanon's side.' Ahmad Al-Kheir, a lawmaker with the 'National Moderation' bloc, dismissed the proposal as 'stillborn,' warning that light weapons have already been used to intimidate citizens and skew political dynamics. 'We saw yesterday how light arms were paraded through Beirut's streets in a blatant attempt at provocation and coercion,' he said. 'This is the real danger - using these weapons as leverage in political life, as we saw in the May 7 events and the occupation of downtown Beirut.' 'No one in Lebanon will accept this,' Al-Kheir added. Additionally, critics warn that allowing any non-state entity to retain weapons threatens state authority and risks further destabilizing the country. Al-Kheir urged Hezbollah and any other party in possession of light weapons to hand them over to the state, citing the recent example set by former Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader Walid Jumblatt. 'Jumblatt announced that his party had surrendered its weapons weeks ago. This is the model to follow,' he told Asharq al-Awsat. MP Waddah Al-Sadek, of the Change Coalition, said he had no objection to a phased disarmament process that begins with heavy and medium weapons, followed by light arms. He dismissed fears of civil war, saying only one side is armed. 'Armed conflict requires two sides. The army will not engage in internal fighting,' he said. 'This talk of civil war is just fear-mongering unless Hezbollah resorts again to something like the May 7 scenario to avoid disarming.' Al-Sadek stressed that Lebanon's response to the US proposal - reportedly outlining phased disarmament - will be critical. 'Does anyone really have an alternative to engaging with this proposal?' he asked. Deputy head of the Free Patriotic Movement, Naji Hayek, said all weapons must be handed over, rejecting the idea that civilians or political groups should be allowed to keep light arms for self-defense. 'This theory no longer holds,' Hayek told Asharq al-Awsat, adding that training camps used to militarize society should be shut down. 'Light and medium weapons are not only with Hezbollah - they exist with other parties that have military structures, and these too must be dismantled.' Political analyst Qassem Qassir, who is close to Hezbollah's thinking, said there is no internal consensus, nor any agreement with Hezbollah, to give up its heavy and medium arms while retaining light weapons. 'The party insists the issue is still the Israeli occupation and ongoing aggression,' he said. 'For Hezbollah, no discussion on disarmament is possible until those threats end.' Qassir warned that if a political solution to the weapons issue is not reached, 'we will inevitably face military risks and internal conflict.' Jumblatt announced in late June that his party had handed over its remaining weapons, including light and medium arms that were gradually accumulated after the May 7 clashes in 2008 during a period of heightened tension with Hezbollah. He said the weapons had been centrally stored and fully turned over to the Lebanese state.
Ya Libnan
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
‘Lebanon is a hostage of Hezbollah arms which are preventing reconstruction:' Gemayel
Gemayel described Hezbollah's clinging to its arsenal as a crime against the nation , stressing that ' its weapons pose an existential threat, as they prevent aid, reconstruction, ending tensions in the south, demarcating borders, and ending the state of war. The head of the Lebanese Kataeb Party, MP Sami Gemayel, said that 'as long as Hezbollah insists on preserving and attempting to restore its military arsenal, Lebanon will not find relief from Israeli strikes, not even economically, because all issues are now linked to this reality.' Gemayel added: 'I do not understand where Hezbollah, which is harming Lebanon and itself, wants to go. We are facing a new tragedy, as it is impossible for its weapons to continue as they are.' He believes that 'the country is heading towards further crises with the party's clinging to its weapons,' describing this clinging to them as a 'crime against the nation.' He emphasized that 'weapons pose an existential threat, as they prevent aid, reconstruction, ending tensions in the south, demarcating borders, and ending the state of war. They also stand in the way of equality and the establishment of the state.' He asserted that 'the time has come to turn a new page and adhere to the ceasefire agreement.' He considered that 'the party's weapons are no longer a source of strength, but rather a pretext for Israel to attack Lebanon.' He emphasized that 'the debate about its role in protecting Lebanon has ended,' adding, 'I am careful not to insult or accuse anyone of treason, and I extend my hand to the party's supporters to tell them that we are closer to them than its leaders, and that what we are proposing constitutes a guaranteeing and protective alternative.' He explained that 'reconciliation and frankness are conditional upon the surrender of weapons,' noting that 'MPs from Amal and Hezbollah welcomed his position, and that both Hassan Fadlallah and Nabih Berri described his words as constructive and worthy of further development.' He emphasized that 'there is no possibility of any reconciliation in the presence of an armed group,' and called for 'the development of a roadmap for the gradual surrender of weapons.' He emphasized that 'the starting point is the party's approval of this path.' He said, 'If the will is present, the President of the Republic will find the appropriate mechanism.' He believed that 'the President of the Republic is trying to restore state sovereignty in a positive manner and will move, based on the facts, to a different approach if his approach fails and is not met with a response.' He asserted that there will be no reconstruction or progress because Hezbollah is determined to remain within the logic of maintaining weapons that have not protected Lebanon.' He pointed out that 'Hezbollah has not been controlling UNIFIL from the beginning, and the moment the party makes the decision to disarm, we will no longer need UNIFIL or any other protection.' He emphasized that 'the decision to confiscate weapons is final, and our position has been one of extreme sovereignty and independence from 1936 to the present day, unrelated to anything else.' He added, 'Let's avoid problems and move towards something positive.' He considered that 'the government is starting from scratch, and it is not ideal, as there are those accustomed to the old regime, and there are obstructions to the reform process, and a political, financial, and economic lobby is preventing reforms that are not in its favor.' He noted that 'the government is doing everything possible to advance the issues, and there is no doubt that the issue of weapons is preventing funds.' Regarding Syrian refugees in Lebanon, he explained that 'they are no longer refugees, but rather illegal economic migrants,' calling on the state to deport any illegal refugees. El Nashra
National News
12-04-2025
- Politics
- National News
"Kataeb neither compromises nor surrenders," affirms Gemayel, says "Discussion on means and not principle of disarmament required"
NNA - "The Kataeb is Lebanon's conscience and its shield. It does not compromise nor surrender. It is a democratic institution that existed before the war, resisted during its period and will build Lebanon after the war. It sacrificed itself for Lebanon," affirmed Kataeb Party leader, MP Sami Gemayel, on Saturday. Marking the 50th anniversary of the launch of the Lebanese resistance on April 13, Gemayel spoke at an event held at the Chiyah Municipal Stadium in Ain el-Rummaneh this afternoon, where he called on the Lebanese to turn a new page, saying, "It is our duty to protect each other and our country. It is our duty to place ourselves under the umbrella of the state, to open a new page, and to keep pace with the path of renewal taking place at the level of the government and the President of the Republic." He added, "The world is looking to help us after we assume our responsibilities. This is a historic opportunity to build a country for our people and for future generations." Gemayel considered that the time has come for a "frank session" on the means of disarmament, saying, "We are not prepared to discuss the feasibility of handing over weapons, because the matter is stipulated in the constitution, the law, and international agreements, and the matter is settled. We are not prepared to engage in dialogue on the issue. The only discussion required between the state, led by President Joseph Aoun, and the government, is to directly address Hezbollah regarding the method and not the principle of disarmament." "The presence of illegal weapons was the basis for the outbreak of war, and it is time for us to learn that only the state can protect and provide security for our children," Gemayel underlined. =========
