Army Command Says Pierre Hashash Arrested for 'Insulting Military Institution'

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The Army Command said on Friday that the arrest of rap artist and the former candidate to the parliamentary elections Pierre Hashash came after “his statements offended the military institution and its members”.

“Hashash was arrested and questioned following statements he made on the eve of Independence Day,” the army' statement explained, adding that he “incited others to attack the military institution and tarnish its reputation on social networking websites”.

"Investigations have revealed that the detainee has outstanding charges against him and these are being examined by the competent court,” the army said, explaining why Hashash is still under arrest to this day.

Hashash was beaten up by the army intelligence squad and arrested on Wednesday following a post he wrote on his Facebook page in which he criticized a roundabout holding Army Commander's name “for causing traffic jam” in Batroun city, LBCI reported.

His statement was soon replaced with a picture showing his blood stains on the steps of al-Batroun Serail stairs.

"Pierre was beaten up by army officers and his head was bleeding when he got arrested,” Hashash's sister told LBCI.

“The Army Command is keen on preserving freedom of speech, but it will not tolerate any violations serving individuals at the expense of the higher national interest,” the army's statement expressed.

Hashash rose to fame in 2005 when he presented his candidacy for the parliamentary elections in Batroun and accompanied his nomination with a sarcastic PR campaign that gained wide media attention and coverage.

Comments 32
Thumb Marc 23 November 2012, 20:35

So they beat him up??? Congrats to the army and the freedom of speech! "Sarcastic"... Why don't you go and pick up all illegitimate weapons throughout the country??? Yalla, Hay Balad!

Thumb mdrrr 24 November 2012, 00:10

mdr

Thumb andre.jabbour 24 November 2012, 13:03

I'm not familiar with this dude but it seems the army is going too far. This seems to be a personal vendetta between the commander and HAshash

Missing peace 24 November 2012, 16:13

arrested the mokdads? lol yes but only because hezbis gave the army the green light otherwise ..... you are so funny FT and naive.

Default-user-icon farah (Guest) 23 November 2012, 20:41

hey qahwagi got get me coffee boy and not temper tantrums this time or I will send you to your room without the presidency.

Default-user-icon Sarah Tahani (Guest) 23 November 2012, 20:51

Why don't the army arrest and beat up the real trouble maker in Lebanon Assir? He is directly instigating violence and murder in his speeches and nothing is done. You arrest a civilian and beat him up! What men we have in the army, and I fully now understand why Hizbullah is the strong force that defend Lebanon when it is attacked while the lebanese "army" is hiding with their mummies eating hummus:)

Thumb geha 23 November 2012, 20:58

most probably they think this country can be ruled by moukhabarat! they are in for a major surprise.
as if it was not enough we pay salaries to an army that does not defend our borders, as if it was not enough that this army completely disrupted the lives of Lebanese to train (they could have trained somewhere else), as if it was not enough what this army is doing supporting the Syrian regime, as if this army is not killing people at checkpoints,....

Thumb geha 23 November 2012, 20:58

most probably they think this country can be ruled by moukhabarat! they are in for a major surprise.
as if it was not enough we pay salaries to an army that does not defend our borders, as if it was not enough that this army completely disrupted the lives of Lebanese to train (they could have trained somewhere else), as if it was not enough what this army is doing supporting the Syrian regime, as if this army is not killing people at checkpoints,....

Thumb lebanon_first 23 November 2012, 21:03

He should be arrested and judged to pay a hefty fine. He should not be beaten. If the army has extra testosterone to spare,let them take on HA.

Missing roger@10452 24 November 2012, 09:13

lebanon-first, well said!!!

Thumb thepatriot 24 November 2012, 18:43

No he should NOT be arrested at all for expressing an opinion! Are you guys mad??

Missing cedars 23 November 2012, 21:56

He probably cursed,insulted or attacked the officers arresting him. At the same time I am not saying that the members of the internal security are 100% perfect. I am sure the truth and more info will come out.

Thumb geha 23 November 2012, 22:47

it was not internal security officers who arrested him, they were army intelligence (actually without intelligence).

Missing sikoflebanon 23 November 2012, 23:51

such army is an insult to itself!!

Thumb thepatriot 24 November 2012, 18:45

Who cares ya ahbal!

Missing peace 24 November 2012, 00:37

lol! isn t lebanon a free country? only in dictatorships you get arrested for that kind of crime! shame on lebanon.....

Thumb ghada12 24 November 2012, 01:24

my reaction exactly!

Thumb gebran_sons 24 November 2012, 01:31

A sad day in Lebanon. Not only we have to deal with political mafia, now our army is mimicking the basij. Either the silent majority should wake up and clean up the political and military arena, or we should all burn our Lebanese passports and let the country goes to hell because Lebanese don't deserve freedom and democracy or don't have the guts to ask for it. Either way we are getting what we deserve and the Cedar Revolution od 2005 woulb remain a sad reminder what the country could have been but why Lebanese continue to live in the mud.

Thumb Chupachups 24 November 2012, 01:44

And we will always live in the mud

Default-user-icon v (Guest) 24 November 2012, 02:06

If Jean Qahwaji thinks he is going to become President, he has another thing coming. Go Pierre Hashash!

Default-user-icon Majid Hanna (Guest) 24 November 2012, 04:43

This guy should be locked up and never released. He should wipe his mouth clean before mentioning the Army and it's command! If it wasn't for the Army habibe you would of been stoned by a Salafist court in Batround or Tripoli. It's stooges and narrow minded individuals like this moron in Lebanon who do not understand geopolitics and the threats imposed on Lebanon and it's Military and Civilian Institutions. He should be greatful and demosntrating support towards the LAF.

Thumb cedar 24 November 2012, 04:47

The army is correct in arresting him for causing a breaking of the peace, in any other country this is don't by the police, however they don't have the right to abuse him. But then again... There is no evidence that the army did that apart from this guys statement and if he is a rapper he probably was high on hashish or something and made the story up...

Default-user-icon the _drill (Guest) 24 November 2012, 10:23

Cedar,
No one (including should be arrested at the whim of a certain agency. There was no valid warrant against pierre. He wasn't High as you said and got beaten and brutalized. there was 60 witnesses at the scene. He was not threatening civil peace, no more than you do with your comments on political issues on this site.

And now they want to prosecute him in a military court.

Thumb thepatriot 24 November 2012, 18:47

"breaking of the peace" lol

Missing chouf3 24 November 2012, 07:17

Well said cedar ,the army cant win with all them freedom lovers ,since when we have rappers in Lebanon .I say to the army keep up the good work and keep on arresting them loose punks .

Missing abdul 24 November 2012, 13:30

Congratulation for the army that the only industry in Lebanon always awake and working tosevure the people

Default-user-icon Pierre (Guest) 24 November 2012, 16:57

Is this a democracy or dictatorship.... Anything can can be used or said to offend the national good... Shame on the army leaders since when do they have the right to arrest people for voicing opinions and instead of looking on Facebook of other Lebanese go protect the borders

Missing chouf3 24 November 2012, 23:20

zadig this is not dictatorship habib ,its called a wanna be rap dude having a go at our great army ,please give Qahwaji a break he and the army have the following trouble makers to deal with ( Hezb,Asir,Amal,,the camps,M8 ,M14 ,Syrians,Fatah El Shit,and not to name few more )and now you are worried about a twisted rap jerk being arrested ,for the record rap music is crap and this has nothing to do with Iran/ Syria/ Saudi Arabia and I dont like the way they live in either country ,so at the end of the day rap music is crap & yes to Lebanon Punk free,god bless the army..

Thumb alzahlawy 25 November 2012, 03:23

ya haram....

Default-user-icon Algie (Guest) 25 November 2012, 04:27

Kill the evil rapster,do i want my youth to be poisoned by them.I am going into army to serve and protect my country and you.When trained i will use my skills to beat rappers who insult army,or maybe push dow stair and say he fell.Civilians support the Army we are the ones who fight and kill for you...........

Missing allouchi 26 November 2012, 16:16

M8 government is action...what a joke...freedom of speech should be protected and innocent until proven guilty...what did he say by the way that insulted the Army so much???

Default-user-icon pierre hachach (Guest) 06 February 2014, 15:05

mouah