Unknown Individuals Burn Christmas Tree in Tripoli... Political and Religious Condemnation

Unknown individuals threw a Molotov cocktail at the Christmas tree in front of St. George Church in the Zaharia area of Tripoli early Sunday morning, leading to its complete destruction. Security and military forces promptly arrived on the scene and began investigations to identify the perpetrators. Political and religious leaders condemned "this rejected and suspicious act." Maya Habib, head of the Emergency Foundation, who had illuminated the tree, stated that "there is a fifth column that aims to create an environment far removed from the people of Tripoli, their authenticity, and their commitment to coexistence, and it cannot distort the image of the city." She emphasized that "those who carried out this condemned act do not know the good people of Tripoli." The Tripoli Coordination of the "Future Movement" also condemned the burning of the Christmas tree, asserting in a statement that "those who committed this disgraceful act are strangers to Tripoli and its people and do not represent the values of the northern capital that embraces everyone with moderation, belief in a shared life, and respect for all religions. No matter how hard they try with such rejected actions, they cannot distort its true image known by all Lebanese—a city of moderation, love, meeting, peace, and piety." The Tripoli Coordination of the "Future Movement" called on security, military, and judicial authorities to "uncover the circumstances surrounding the burning of the tree, apprehend the perpetrators, and impose the harshest penalties on them, so they serve as a deterrent to anyone who might think of committing divisive acts that harm communal living and civil peace in Tripoli and all of Lebanon."