Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt slammed the provocative remarks Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil has recently made against the Syrian and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.
Jumblatt took to Twitter to blast the FM’s remarks. “We heard the news of Deir al-Ahmar about the expulsion of the Syrians, and we hear the news of Arsal and the demolition of tents and houses again,” said Jumblatt, adding: “We have compiled a prominent minister of racist theories against the Palestinians and the Syrians,” in reference to FM Bassil.
Jumblatt asked: “Who is the ruler in this country, and what is the position of the prime minister?” He took a swipe at the recent racist actions against Syrian refugees in Lebanon amid the of absence of action by the country’s PM.
Jumblat hinted that the PM Saad Hariri’s silence might be part of a deal among the political rivals in Lebanon. He said: “Or is it that what is happening is part of an ominous deal? Will we deport those refugees to face execution in Syria?
Jumblatt’s remarks came in response to the Lebanese authorities’ forcing of a Syrian refugee to demolish her tent in a refugee camp near Arsal, Lebanon during the days of Eid al-Fitr. Lebanon hosts about 1.5 million Syrian refugees, half of whom live in refugee camps.
Activists published a video on social media showing a Syrian mother demolishing the concrete wall of her shack while appealing to humanitarian organizations to shelter her children.
The Syrian Coalition earlier denounced the racist campaign against the Syrian refugees in Lebanon, stressing that FM Bassil and his pro-Assad regime party will bear the blame for any harm to Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
Arbitrary measures against Syrian refugees in Lebanon prompted 76 Lebanese NGOs and 430 civil society personalities to appeal to the Lebanese authorities to retract a decision to demolish the tents of the Syrian refugees. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
