The Shweifat-Khalda branch of the Progressive Socialist Party and the Progressive Youth Organization organized a protest in front of the military court in Beirut, demanding "justice in the case of martyr Alaa Abu Fakhr and all other martyrs who fell defending public liberties."
Participants in the protest included member of the "Democratic Gathering," MP Bilal Abdullah, Secretary-General of the Progressive Party Dhafer Nasser, Shweifat branch officer Marwan Abi Farraj, attorneys Nashat Al-Hosni and Wissam Eid, internal agency members, and supporters. Abdullah pointed out that "those who withdrew the law for the independence of the judiciary from the public session of the Parliament bear responsibility for its non-enactment," affirming that "an independent judiciary must not be beholden to political power and small, factional calculations in this case and others."
He stated: "We will continue as the Democratic Gathering and as the Progressive Socialist Party to fight for truth; everyone must know that the blood and martyrdom of our comrade Alaa Abu Fakhr is very precious to us as a party, as revolutionaries, and as citizens, and we will not remain silent on this issue." For his part, Al-Hosni stressed that "Abu Fakhr's martyrdom was not a casual incident but a purposeful national cause; he is a martyr of the nation and a symbol of hope for all Lebanese for a better future."
He remarked: "We were surprised by this exceptional judiciary, and the case in the military court is proceeding without any freedom for the legitimate parties to follow it, and we fear that this file will be shelved like others. Exceptional courts should be abolished, and we should return to regular courts."
He added: "We have said that justice is above immunities, justice for the victims of the port and for all the martyrs and victims who fell as a result of standing by national causes. Today we renew our request to the military court to consider this file, which renews our fears of its transformation from intentional murder to manslaughter."
Meanwhile, Eid stated: "The indictment issued on a dark night was based on charges of unintentional killing, which raises several questions, the first being how the public prosecutor, which had filed charges of intentional killing and based its case on intentional murder charges, can approve and validate the indictment issued on April 1, which is for unintentional killing."
Abi Farraj remarked: "Our stand today is not against the judiciary but out of fear of the pressures the judiciary is facing, especially in the case of martyr Abu Fakhr, who is not only a party comrade but a Lebanese citizen with rights against the state."
He added: "The judge is heading today to issue a sentence of only three years in prison for a horrific case where intentional murder occurred directly in front of people and is documented by video and photos, which is an unjust decision against Alaa and against every Lebanese citizen. Therefore, we demand an independent judiciary to protect citizens and their rights and to achieve justice."
