Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Thursday, July 17, 2025
    961
    Instagram Facebook LinkedIn TikTok
    • Breaking News
    • Guides
    • Food & Drink
    • Listicles
    • Join the Team
    • Whatsapp
      • 961
      • 961 News
    Advertise with Us Get the App
    961
    Home»News»Lebanon News
    6 Mins Read

    The Lebanese Revolution Is Still There… You’re Just Not Allowed To See It

    By Hussein YassineJanuary 8, 2020Updated:May 30, 2020
    Facebook WhatsApp Copy Link

    “Post-October 17th is not like pre-October 17th” has become a popular saying that reflects the effects that this date has had on Lebanon, especially on its political life. The Lebanese revolution of October has evidently changed the rules of the political game.

    It has done so through the collective willpower of the people and the effectiveness of their determination to stir change in a country that has grown rotten with familiar political faces and empty promises.

    The revolution, since its very first day, has breathed life and invigorating hope back into the Lebanese people.

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Madi Karimeh (@madikarimeh)

    Decades of living under the greedy grips of the conflicting dynasties in Lebanon had made the people believe that they had no other choice and that the ruling politicians will continue to tug on the ends of the country – ripping it apart slowly – forever.

    That was the case until October 17th snapped them out of their lethargic submission.

    The seas of people that flooded the streets, rocked the high chairs and shook off those stuck unto them, proved that the original source of authority is still able to take back the helm… And indeed, it did just that.

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Sami Saab (@samisaabkteer)

    For weeks straight, the Lebanese uprising was the central talk for the local media, as well as a wide portion of the international media.

    The majority of Lebanese people, whether in Lebanon or among the diaspora, were either marching, demonstrating, yelling, petitioning, and participating in human chains, or glued to their TV screens and watching these protests take place.

    For weeks straight in Lebanon, the revolution was everything.

    The roars of the people, who have had enough of the tyranny, have achieved so much in over 2 months of protest:

    The resignation of the government, the unprecedented commencement of a serious battle against corruption, the independence of the Beirut Bar association, and consequently – and ironically – pressing the authority to respect and properly enforce the law in many instances.

    Of course, the revolution has not achieved everything it had set out to achieve. But, unlike what might seem to be the case currently, the revolution is certainly not over. On the contrary, it is stronger than ever.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B625BNYDWr4

    For some reason, almost certainly a political one, the media in Lebanon lately has not been properly covering the events of the uprising as they should – and did during the first 2 months or so after October 17; even though the sit-ins are still in place and the daily rallies have not ceased.

    Instead, the center of attention has shifted to the new Prime Minister and his ongoing strive to form a new government to replace the one that resigned and, hopefully, to comply with the demands of the people in the streets.

    That is not to say that such a political event does not deserve the air it’s getting. But to give it all the air, all day long, and to deprive the protesters their right to be covered and their message to be delivered is, to put it mildly, unfair.

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Lebanonuprising⚖️ (@lebanonuprising)

    On the contrary: It is now, more than ever, that the protesters need to have their voices heard.

    It is now, more than before, that they see it important to give their opinions on the upcoming government and the progress of its formation. After all, they are the sole reason behind the need to form a new government.

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Daizy Gedeon (@daizygedeon)

    Therefore, it is a must that their opinions and criticism be listened to by PM Diab, who himself said upon being appointed in December that he supports the demands of the revolution.

    He promised the revolutionaries that “the situation will not return to what it was before the popular movement.” However, the almost-done formation of the next government seems to be heavily influenced by the same ruling class of pre-October 17.

    Almost 20 days have passed since Hassan Diab’s appointment and the new cabinet has not seen the light of day yet… It surely isn’t supposed to take that long to form, unless some hurdles are in the way.

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Lebanonuprising⚖️ (@lebanonuprising)

    Unsurprisingly, a terrible hurdle has been the reason behind the delay. That hurdle is the apparently plentiful disagreements among the sects in the course of formation.

    Disagreements over the shape of the new government, the names of the new ministers, their distribution among the ministries, and more of the classic Lebanese political debates.

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Lebanonuprising⚖️ (@lebanonuprising)

    The media in Lebanon has been so keen on investigating these conflicts and racing to leak all-new information about the progress of the government.

    So keen that they forgot or, more likely, pretended to forget that the revolutionaries, whom they so eagerly praised and supported in the first several weeks, are desperately trying to be heard amidst all the political noise.

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Live Love Tripoli (@livelovetripoli)

    The revolution is not over. The authority is trying, as it has been since day one, to make it seem so in order to be able to resume control over Lebanon as if the past 83 days did not happen.

    They have an influence over the media just as they do over most things in the country, and they seem to have begun using that influence to their advantage.

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Hafez (@thehafezz)

    Just this past Sunday, January 5th, a great number of protesters marched towards and demonstrated near the parliament building in Beirut.

    However, most Lebanese news channels did not do the protest justice with their coverage; it was very poor and brief although the protest was massive.

    ملفت التعتيم الإعلامي الممنهج لتحركات الثورة يلي حاملة العلم اللبناني بكل المناطق.
    بالمقابل التغطية المفصلة للتحركات والخطابات الحزبية والأعلام الملونة الطائفية وإستضافة أبواق السلطة على الشاشات.#لبنان_ينتفض pic.twitter.com/iP8Xy6HUwO

    — lucien bourjeily (@lucienbourjeily) January 5, 2020

    But we live in the golden age of speed and technology, where every individual can easily become a human broadcast station.

    In that position, it has become the job of every protester to show the world through their phones and voices, that their revolution is still alive and persistent.

    Social media has had an enormously positive effect on the uprising from its very beginning, not to forget that it was the very spark that caused it in the first place.

    Through the collective use of social networks and live video streaming, the apparent media blackout is being overcome by the people for the people.

    https://twitter.com/aly_maryam/status/1213925600605462531?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

    It would be a shame to let the false picture of a fading uprising overshadow the reality of the unabating determination within the revolutionaries.

    The people are not allowing it, especially when the battle for the nation is nearing its final stage with each day. 

    The Lebanese people can still take their country back from those who have drained it and destroyed it; it is in their -our- hands. As the revolutionaries chanted on Sunday in their march, “Revolutionaries, free people, our journey continues.”

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Lebanese political talk 🇱🇧 (@lebpoliticaltalk)

    Lebanese Revolution (Thawra)
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email

    For You

    uae travel ban lebanon 961

    UAE Is Officially Removing The Travel Ban On Lebanon

    Joe Issa El-Khoury 961

    Who is Joe Issa El-Khoury, Lebanon’s New Minister of Industry

    Adel Nassar 961

    Who is Adel Nassar, Lebanon’s New Minister of Justice

    Nizar Hani 961

    Who is Nizar Hani, Lebanon’s New Minister of Agriculture

    Charles Hajj 961

    Who Is Charles Hajj, Lebanon’s New Minister of Telecommunications

    Nora Bayrakdarian 961

    Who is Nora Bayrakdarian, Lebanon’s New Minister of Youth and Sports

    shark tank Lebanon

    Shark Tank Is Officially Coming To Lebanon – Here’s How You Can Get A Chance To Pitch Your Idea

    lebanon jounieh cyprus by ferry 961

    You’ll Soon Be Able To Travel Between Lebanon & Cyprus By Ferry

    June 8, 2025

    20 Celebrities You Probably Didn’t Know Had Lebanese Roots

    April 22, 2019
    whish pay lebanon 961

    You Can Now Use Whish Pay At Shopify Stores

    June 13, 2025

    Lebanon’s Shawarma Is Going Viral in The Philippines

    April 21, 2019

    How Mia Khalifa Became One Of The Most Outspoken Advocates For Lebanon

    August 13, 2020
    Lebanese boutiques

    25 Boutiques In Lebanon To Find Your Dream Evening Dress This Wedding Season

    June 9, 2024

    20 Typical Lebanese Slang Expressions

    April 21, 2020
    caracalla one thousand and one nights

    Caracalla Just Added More Dates For “One Thousand and One Nights” & You Def Don’t Want To Miss It!

    July 5, 2025
    Low-Cost Lebanese Airline 961

    We Might Finally Be Getting A Low-Cost Lebanese Airline – Here’s What We Know

    June 18, 2025
    961 Logo
    Facebook WhatsApp TikTok Instagram

    Popular Topics

    • Guides
    • Eat & Drink
    • Listicles
    • Lebanon News
    • Diaspora
    • Explained

    961

    • About
    • WhatsApp Channel
    • News WhatsApp Channel
    • Corrections Policy
    • Ownership & Funding

    Services

    • Advertise
    • Careers
    • App Waitlist
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletter
    961™ | All Rights Reserved ©2025
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.