Syrian refugees in Lebanon urged to refrain from staging rallies

Lebanon’s Ministry of Interior urged on Thursday the Syrian refugees not to stage any political rallies that “might in any way undermine security and stability in Lebanon or the relations between Syrian refugees and Lebanese citizens.”

The measure is reportedly aimed at distancing Lebanon from the Syrian civil war maintaining sound and cordial relations between the Lebanese citizens and the Syrian refugees.”

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq urged U.N. organizations and international groups concerned with the plight of Syrian refugees to “fully shoulder their responsibilities in this regard, seek to inform Syrian refugees of this statement’s content, and to follow up the issue and give it utmost importance.”

This development comes after the Syrian refugees staged rallies in the Bourj Hammoud and al-Nabaa areas in support of Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has nominated himself for a third presidential term. The demonstrators waved the flags of Syria and Hezbollah.

Damascus has called on all Syrian refugees — except those who fled “illegally” — to cast their votes at embassies for the election.

Lebanon, a country of four million people has the highest per capita refugee population in the world. Nearly one in four residents of Lebanon is now a Syrian refugees.