The third memorial service for Lokman Slim’s death was held in Beirut on February 7, 2024. Lokman Mohsen Slim was a Shiite political activist renowned for his anti-Hezbollah stance. Slim was found dead in his automobile on February 4, 2021, in the Aaddousiyyeh neighborhood. Although Slim’s assassins have not yet been identified and no suspect has been arrested since the accusing finger is pointed at Hezbollah. link to an article detailing Slim’s assassination.
Last month was the anniversary of Slim’s murder. In contrast to previous years where the day was more modestly marked at Slim’s family home, this year, the Lokman Slim Foundation, in collaboration with the Umam (Amim) Center for Documentation and Research and the Dar Al-Jadid publishing house, chose to mark the anniversary in cooperation with the MENA photography center near Beirut’s port.
Makram Rabah, a professor and historian, delivered a speech at the ceremony in memory of his friend Lokman Slim, mentioning that he was his companion. Rabah used his speech to blame Hezbollah for killing Slim, for the explosion at Beirut Port in 2020, and for the destruction in Lebanon. He also discussed Hezbollah’s weapons storage and production facilities in Syria.
The following is a quote from Rabah’s speech: “I know who killed Lokman, Hezbollah killed Lokman Slim, Hezbollah kills the Lebanese people and holds the country hostage just as it holds the residents of the south.”[1]
On March 17, Rabah posted on his official X page a photocopy of an official invitation to an investigation by Lebanon’s General Security Forces, along with the caption: “Yesterday I was notified that I am being requested to appear at the Security Investigations Department of General Security. Perhaps they want to hear from me about the gathering of the axis of concern and “resistance” that took place in Beirut last week, accompanied by the hashtag #no fear.
The next day (March 18), Makram Rabah was arrested by the Lebanese General Security. At the same time, Rabah’s post received hundreds of thousands of exposures and was reshared by many celebrities, activists, bloggers, and online influencers in Lebanon who opposed the action, expressing concern and fear regarding the conduct of the Lebanese security forces. They called for Rabbah’s immediate release, noting that he was arrested merely for expressing his opinion. The pressure created by the social media campaign for Rabah’s release was beneficial and after a few hours, he was released.
The General Security (“Al-Madiyyah al-‘Amma al-Aman al-‘Aam”) – operates under the Ministry of the Interior, formerly known as “The First Office”. Its functions include information gathering (espionage/political/social/economic), media censorship, surveillance-treatment-supervision of foreigners, transit permits/passports/visas/residence permits. The Commander of General Security is Liwa (Major-General) Elias al-Baissari, who replaced Abbas Ibrahim.
Hezbollah’s connection and influence on the security organization in Lebanon are not new. Hezbollah’s coordination and liaison unit, headed by Wafiq Safa, is responsible for coordinating with the Lebanese security forces and Safa maintains close ties with the Lebanese security forces.
We believe the arrest of Makram Rabah was orchestrated by Hezbollah, which has developed experience in eliminating and silencing opponents and critics who obstruct its way. Makram Rabah and Lokman Slim not only criticized Hezbollah harshly but also accused it of being involved in the 2020 Beirut port explosion. The explosion killed 218 Lebanese, and Hezbollah is continuously attempting to hide any link to it.
[1] https://twitter.com/i/status/1755342770124825016
