The Union of Municipalities of the Deir al-Ahmar region announced a public mourning on Monday for the souls of the martyrs Haitham Touq and Malek Touq, expressing condolences to their family and the broader community of Bsharri. The union emphasized solidarity and unity as one family against any aggression or strife.
Furthermore, statements from Bsharri MPs Strida Touq Jaajaa and Melhem Touq, along with a statement from the families of the victims Haitham and Malek Touq, stressed the importance of refraining from gunfire during the funeral and urged people not to be provoked.
In a joint statement, the MPs shared: "In light of the heinous crime that led to the martyrdom of Malek Touq and Haitham Jamil Touq through treachery on our land at the well-known site of the martyrs, ‘Qurnat al-Sawda,’ we affirm the following points: First, Bsharri, as it always has throughout history, stands united, young and old, against all issues that affect the dignity and existence of its people in this land. Second, the atrocious crime committed on our land that resulted in the martyrdom of two of Bsharri's finest youth necessitates the readiness and mobilization of all security, judicial, and military authorities and the swift conclusion of investigations to arrest the killers, wherever they may be and regardless of their affiliations, and bring them to justice with the strictest penalties, as this crime will not pass without accountability and punishment. Third, the ownership of Bsharri at the summit of the martyrs has never been and will never be a subject of dispute of any kind; it has always been and will remain an integral part of the historical real estate of the Bsharri district. Fourth, adhering to the wishes of the families of the martyrs and to maintain the image of the city of the courageous Bsharri, the MPs Strida Touq Jaajaa and Melhem Touq call upon their relatives in Jebbet Bsharri to refrain from firing gunshots during the funeral of the martyrs tomorrow and to instead participate en masse in prayer for their souls."
The families of the young men Haitham and Malek Touq, who were killed two days ago in Qurnat al-Sawda, also released a statement saying: "The family of the martyrs Haitham and Malek Touq, while thanking everyone who shares their grief, requests everyone to respect the wishes of the martyrs and their families by not firing shots at all during the funeral, hoping everyone will respect this wish and settle for prayers for their souls and participation in the blessed funeral."
