Terzian: Syrians Turned Property into a Commercial Market and Meeting Place for "Thugs and Thieves"
MP Hakob Terzian stated: "I have received complaints from several residents of the Beirut I district, in my capacity as an MP and former member of the Beirut Municipality Council, regarding Syrian refugees who have turned a property on the Corniche of the Beirut River, owned by the municipality, into a commercial market and a gathering place for 'thugs and thieves'." Terzian added: "I am putting this issue at the forefront of my concerns, and I'm following up with the residents of Khalil Badawi and the River precinct, along with Captain Jeffrey Al-Najjar. The Governor of Beirut has been informed about what is happening at this property. It is noteworthy that I have been following up on the issue of occupied lands by anyone since I was a member of the Beirut Municipality Council. For your information, the property was evacuated from its occupiers in 2017 and was sealed off (attached is the decision of the Public Prosecutor's Office in Beirut). Miraculously, with the cover of some politicians in 2020, the seals were removed, and the property was reoccupied by the same occupier and the parties that cover this occupation. It is also worth noting that the legitimate authority responsible for executing the eviction is the municipality, meaning the Governor of the City of Beirut whom I visited, and he promised me to take the legal measures."