Anti-Hezbollah party marks Salman’s death

The Lebanese Option party held a protest Sunday June 23, at the same time and place of Hashem Salman’s killing – 12:30 p.m. in front of the Army barracks near the Iranian Embassy in the Bir Hassan neighborhood.

Salman, 28, the leader of the student section of the Lebanese Option party , was killed and several other anti-Hezbollah protesters were wounded in the June 9 demonstration, outside the Iranian Embassy in Beirut.

The protest took place on Sunday amid heavy security measures imposed by the Lebanese Armed Forces to prevent protesters from entering the embassy’s premises.

The leader of the Lebanese Option party Ahmad al-Asaad, as well as a civil society delegation took part in the demonstration during which white roses were distributed and a Lebanese flag laid on the spot where Hashem Salman was beaten to death.

Earlier in the week Asaad blamed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and senior officials in the Lebanese state for the recent killing .

“Hashem Salman tried to jump into a four-wheel drive car to ask for the protection of the Army personnel in it, but they pushed him back outside toward the people wearing black shirts and told him that they are not going to be involved in this,” Asaad said.

Asaad also directed part of his ire at Lebanon’s state institutions. “I also hold the Lebanese state as well as the security forces that were present at the site of the protest but didn’t interfere to protect the innocent youth responsible and complicit in this crime,” Asaad said.

President Michel Suleiman called June 10 on Hezbollah and the Iranian Embassy to assist in the investigation into Salam’s death, while politicians condemned the killing and protest attack that took place outside Tehran’s mission in Beirut.

“Suleiman stressed the need for citizens and parties in the area, particularly Hezbollah and the Iranian Embassy, to assist the competent agencies in their mission to uncover the details and circumstances [surrounding the crime],” said a statement from Sleiman’s office.

A small group of protesters from the Lebanese Option Party were attacked by Hezbollah supporters with sticks and guns when they arrived outside the embassy in Beirut for a scheduled protest against Hezbollah and Iranian involvement in the Syrian civil war.

The Hezbollah supporters , who were wearing black with yellow armbands beat and shot at the protesters almost immediately after they got off a bus in Beirut’s southern suburb.

Photo: The Lebanese Option party held a protest Sunday June 23, at the same time and place of Hashem Salman’s killing – 12:30 p.m. in front of the Army barracks near the Iranian Embassy in the Bir Hassan neighborhood. The leader of the Lebanese Option party Ahmad al-Asaad (center) took part in the demonstration during which white roses were distributed and a Lebanese flag laid on the spot where Hashem Salman was beaten to death. NOW