In a series of tweets posted by their official Arabic account, Amnesty International expressed support towards Lebanese protesters in Lebanon and acknowledged their peacefulness. The 7 tweets they posted regarding the Lebanese revolution covered various angles of the movement, including support for the right that all citizens have to peacefully protest, and condemnation of the reported use of violence against them in some areas.
The first of the tweets, published on the second day of the revolution, revealed Amnesty’s watchful eye over the unfolding events in Lebanon and encouraged the local authorities to respect the freedom of speech and that of assembly.
Additionally, the tweet advised the Lebanese army and security forces to practice self-discipline in dealing with the protests and abstain from using violence.
نراقب عن كثب المظاهرات الحاصلة في مدن مختلفة في #لبنان. ومع ترقب حدوث المزيد من المظاهرات اليوم، نطالب السلطات اللبنانية بما فيها لأجهزة الأمنية والجيش بضبط النفس واحترام حرية التعبير عن الرأي والتجمع وبعدم استخدام أي شكل من أشكال العنف المفرط ضد المتظاهرين. #لبنان_ينتفض pic.twitter.com/6cENgHfe0w
— منظمة العفو الدولية (@AmnestyAR) October 18, 2019
The following day, amnesty tweeted a second time, asserting the rights that the Lebanese have in partaking in peaceful protests. It also requested that an investigation be carried out regarding the excessive use of tear gas, and the violence practiced against the assemblies by security forces the night before.
Similar points have been made in successive tweets by Amnesty International as the revolution maintained its momentum, reaching its 9th day on Friday. The organization reiterated its solidarity with the Lebanese demonstrators and their rightful demands of living in a corruption-free state.
Repetitive messages were also tweeted, criticizing the increasing attacks on the peaceful gatherings by “anti-protest groups and other armed groups.”
Amnesty warned also repeatedly of the implications of the use of force against peaceful rallies, “Despite the authorities’ attempt to avoid repressing demonstrations, we have documented some incidents of repression by the military in some areas. The Lebanese authorities should exercise maximum restraint with peaceful demonstrators. The use of violence will only increase tension and violations.”
This past Thursday, the organization defended the Lebanese for peacefully closing roads as part of the protest, and recognized it as a legitimate form of a peaceful assembly according to international human rights standards. Amnesty’s tweet then reassured that any attempt to forcibly remove protesters by the Lebanese authorities would violate their right to peaceful protest.
إغلاق الطرقات بشكل سلمي كجزء من الاحتجاج يُعد شكلاً مشروعاً للتجمع السلمي وفقًا للمعايير الدولية لحقوق الإنسان. وأي محاولة لإزاحة المحتجين بالقوة من قبل السلطات اللبنانية ستمثل انتهاكًا لحقهم في الاحتجاج السلمي. كل ما يريده المتظاهرون اللبنانيون هو أن تُسمع أصواتهم. #لبنان_ينتفض pic.twitter.com/3L7IHeh9ds
— منظمة العفو الدولية (@AmnestyAR) October 24, 2019
Amnesty International is a British non-governmental organization focused on human rights. The organization claims it has more than seven million members and supporters around the world.
It was founded in July 1961 in London, United Kingdom. Its stated mission is to campaign for “a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments.”
@chadinachabeWe do want to mention in this context that assaults on our Army have been occurring these past two days from political gangs who have also assaulted several times the peaceful protesters in Nabatieh, with some relevant brutality in downtown Beirut on Oct 25th, before, during, and after Nassrallah’s televised speech.
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