Calls for the Gallows for Former Government Officials in Lebanon

Thousands of people are once again gathering in the center of Beirut, which has become the epicenter of protests demanding change in the country since October. This was reported by Voice of America.

These protests, which followed a powerful explosion at the city’s port a few days ago, forced the government to resign, but today demonstrators are saying that the government officials need to be hanged. They accuse the leadership of ignoring warnings about the dangers of ammonium nitrate.

More than 220 people lost their lives in the explosion, and around 5,000 were injured. Nearly a quarter of a million people have been left homeless here.

Nida Hakim, who is voluntarily cleaning the city streets today, holds a noose in her hand, like hundreds of others, and says that the former government must answer for not only the dead but for everyone.

During the protests that started on Saturday, security forces used tear gas against demonstrators trying to breach the police barrier surrounding the parliament. However, protesters managed to storm the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building, expressing their outrage.

The wave of protests continued into Sunday. The anger is so great that even 20-year-olds are calling for their political leaders to be sentenced to death.

Today, people here are demanding an international commission to investigate the causes of the explosion. Meanwhile, the international community is still offering millions of dollars in aid. How this aid will be distributed, how the city will be rebuilt, and most importantly, how people’s faith and devotion to their homeland will be restored all depends on the new government.