Mustaqbal Criticizes 'Harsh Verdicts' against al-Asir and His Group
Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc criticized Tuesday what it called the “harsh and severe verdicts that were issued by the Military Court against Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir and his group.”
“The bloc stresses the importance of enforcing justice on everyone without exception and the need to respect the right to defense, topped by examining all evidence presented by the Defense,” said Mustaqbal in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.
It said it was surprised that the said verdicts were issued “amid the continued absence of any measures, rulings or even charges against other parties affiliated with the so-called Resistance Brigades, who took part in violating the law, carrying arms, opening fire and committing murders against a number of unarmed Sidon residents who were peacefully expressing their condemnation of the interference and practices of those Brigades in Sidon.”
The bloc appeared to be echoing claims by al-Asir that members of the Hizbullah-affiliated Resistance Brigades had taken part in the deadly 2013 clashes between the army and his group in the Sidon suburb of Abra.
“Those crimes were committed by individuals who are known by everyone in the city of Sidon, under the eyes of people and in front of cameras, and yet they are still roaming freely without any prosecution. Among the victims were the Sidon residents and two martyrs Lebnan al-Ezzi and Ali Samhoun,” Mustaqbal added, referring to two Asir supporters who were killed in a Sidon clash with gunmen loyal to Hizbullah.
The bloc also lamented that alleged Hizbullah supporters have not been prosecuted over other murders, including the killing of Hashem al-Salman outside the Iranian embassy and the killing of army pilot Samer Hanna.
Al-Asir was on Thursday sentenced to death in the case of the 2013 Abra clashes as pop star-turned-Islamist militant Fadel Shaker was sentenced in absentia to 15 years of hard labor.
The court also sentenced to death two other defendants and five Islamists who remain at large, including the cleric's brother Amjad.
Another 30 defendants were handed life sentences.
The Abra fighting killed 18 Lebanese soldiers and 13 pro-Asir gunmen.
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