Popular rallies are being organized in several areas of Beirut and its eastern suburbs ahead of the funeral of Pascal Sleiman, the Lebanese Forces (LF) coordinator for the Jbeil region who was abducted and killed by suspected car thieves on Sunday. The funeral is scheduled for Friday at 1 PM in the Saint-Georges Cathedral in Jbeil. The mass at the Cathedral will be presided over by Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai, who arrived shortly before 12.30 pm to offer his condolences to the family. The burial will take place in the victim's native village of Mayfouq.
In Achrafieh and Ain al-Remmaneh, as well as at several points on the freeway leading to Jbeil, convoys crisscrossed the streets, flying the party flag and playing LF partisan songs, while many businesses kept their doors closed.
In the town of Jbeil itself, a large crowd gathered around the perimeter of Saint Georges church, where Pascal Sleiman's family was receiving condolences. FL sympathizers brandished portraits of Sleiman and placards with the following slogan: "We will not submit."
In addition to the LF MPs who arrived at the church early in the morning, Mufti Ali el-Amine, a staunch opponent of Hezbollah, went to Jbeil to offer his condolences to the Sleiman family, as well as to the leaders of the Lebanese Forces. MP Sethrida Geagea arrived a little later. She will attend the mass as a representative of LF leader Samir Geagea.
[gallery link="none" size="large" ids="244339,244340"]
Opposition MPs called for a day of mourning to mark the occasion. The follow-up committee representing the Lebanese Forces, Kataeb, Renewal and Change parliamentary blocs, with MP Bilal Hocheimi, called on the Lebanese, in a statement on Thursday, to "observe a day of national mourning, as a sign of solidarity with Pascal Sleiman’s family and with the state, in the face of the security anarchy and illegal weapons that Lebanon is enduring."
The Jbeil District observes a day of mourning and shops are closed. A Popular Emergency Committee in the Batroun region called on "the Federation of Municipalities, the municipality of Batroun, and the city’s Traders Association to act similarly."
The General Secretary of Catholic Schools also called in a statement for the closure of all Catholic schools in Lebanon today, Friday, and for the day to be considered "a day of prayer for the salvation of Lebanon." It also strongly condemned murders and "attacks on human dignity," alluding to the murder of Pascal Sleiman.
#LEBANON - Funeral of Sleiman: LF Supporters Are Beginning to Gather
Supporters of the #LebaneseForces are beginning to gather in several regions of Lebanon.Thousands of people are expected at the funeral of #PascalSleiman, the coordinator of the Lebanese Forces in Jbeil, who… pic.twitter.com/XIAB7lzfJ2
— This is Beirut (@ThisIsBeirut_)#LEBANON - Funeral of Sleiman: LF Supporters Are Beginning to Gather
— This is Beirut (@ThisIsBeirut_) April 12, 2024
Supporters of the #LebaneseForces are beginning to gather in several regions of Lebanon.Thousands of people are expected at the funeral of #PascalSleiman, the coordinator of the Lebanese Forces in Jbeil, who… pic.twitter.com/XIAB7lzfJ2
In Achrafieh and Ain al-Remmaneh, as well as at several points on the freeway leading to Jbeil, convoys crisscrossed the streets, flying the party flag and playing LF partisan songs, while many businesses kept their doors closed.
In the town of Jbeil itself, a large crowd gathered around the perimeter of Saint Georges church, where Pascal Sleiman's family was receiving condolences. FL sympathizers brandished portraits of Sleiman and placards with the following slogan: "We will not submit."
In addition to the LF MPs who arrived at the church early in the morning, Mufti Ali el-Amine, a staunch opponent of Hezbollah, went to Jbeil to offer his condolences to the Sleiman family, as well as to the leaders of the Lebanese Forces. MP Sethrida Geagea arrived a little later. She will attend the mass as a representative of LF leader Samir Geagea.
[gallery link="none" size="large" ids="244339,244340"]
Opposition MPs called for a day of mourning to mark the occasion. The follow-up committee representing the Lebanese Forces, Kataeb, Renewal and Change parliamentary blocs, with MP Bilal Hocheimi, called on the Lebanese, in a statement on Thursday, to "observe a day of national mourning, as a sign of solidarity with Pascal Sleiman’s family and with the state, in the face of the security anarchy and illegal weapons that Lebanon is enduring."
The Jbeil District observes a day of mourning and shops are closed. A Popular Emergency Committee in the Batroun region called on "the Federation of Municipalities, the municipality of Batroun, and the city’s Traders Association to act similarly."
Funeral of Sleiman: LF Supporters Gather in #Ashrafieh and #Ghazir pic.twitter.com/COMMGBXJkA
— This is Beirut (@ThisIsBeirut_)Funeral of Sleiman: LF Supporters Gather in #Ashrafieh and #Ghazir pic.twitter.com/COMMGBXJkA
— This is Beirut (@ThisIsBeirut_) April 12, 2024
The General Secretary of Catholic Schools also called in a statement for the closure of all Catholic schools in Lebanon today, Friday, and for the day to be considered "a day of prayer for the salvation of Lebanon." It also strongly condemned murders and "attacks on human dignity," alluding to the murder of Pascal Sleiman.
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