Communist Party Decries 'Political' Attack after 3 Members 'Beaten', Held at ISF Checkpoint

A clash erupted Monday at the Dahr al-Baydar checkpoint between the members of the Internal Security Forces and supporters of the Lebanese Communist Party who were returning from the annual May Day demo in Beirut.

The National News Agency said the LCP supporters were on a bus.

The dispute broke out “after the bus passengers refused to pull flags hoisted from the windows into the vehicle so that they don't rub against ISF members and other vehicles,” NNA said.

The party issued a statement later in the day saying its supporters “were forced to get off the bus under the excuse that party flags were flying outside it and that they should be put inside, although all political parties are being allowed to hoist their flags in this manner without being prevented by anyone.”

“Things did not stop here and the comrades Mohammed, Mansour and Abdul Khaleq Jamaleddine – three brothers from the town of al-Jamaliyeh – were taken to the police station where they were beaten severely,” the LCP added.

“The comrade Mansour was wounded in the head as a result and was offered first aid by the Lebanese Red Cross before being transferred – following repeated requests by us – to the Riyaq Hospital where his medical condition is currently under monitoring,” the party said.

The statement noted that the three brothers “are still being arbitrarily detained until the moment, despite all the contacts that the party's leadership has conducted with the relevant authorities.”

“The party's political bureau condemns this aggression and labels it as a political attack on public freedoms and the right to peaceful expression and assembly,” the party added, demanding “the immediate release of the detained comrades” and vowing to “follow up on the case and sue the perpetrators.”