Relatives of Abducted Pilgrims Block Road in Downtown Beirut, Vow to Obstruct State Interests
The families of the nine abducted pilgrims in Syria's Aazaz since May last year briefly blocked on Thursday the road near the Turkish cultural center in downtown Beirut amid heavy security deployment.
The Internal Security Forces had earlier deployed near the the Turkish Cultural Center, which is adjacent to the Turkish Airlines offices, in al-Azarieh building.
The families vowed to escalate their endeavors until the nine kidnapped men are released, pointing out that they don't trust the Turkish authorities.
They also threatened to obstruct the interests of the Lebanese state for preventing them from protesting and block Turkish interest in the country.
The protesters argue that Turkey, which is a staunch supporter of the rebels seeking to topple the Syrian regime, should pressure the kidnappers to release the men.
Eleven men were kidnapped in May 2012 in northern Syria's Aleppo province as they returned by land from a pilgrimage in Iran. Two of them were released in August and September.
They were later taken to the Aleppo town of Aazaz.
The kidnapping was claimed by a man who identified himself as Abu Ibrahim and says he is a member of the rebel Free Syrian Army, but the opposition group denies any involvement in the abductions.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/82432 |