Parliament's Official Website Hacked over Extension of its Term

The official website of Lebanon's parliament was hacked on Friday over its decision to extend its mandate.

The “Raise your Voice” group claimed responsibility for the hack.

It put up an image of the 128 lawmakers, labeling them as failures.

The group also posted an invite to a demonstration against the decision that will be held at Riad al-Solh Square in Downtown Beirut.

Hundreds of citizens and civil society activists demonstrated Thursday afternoon in rejection of the extension, as security forces prevented them several times from crossing the barriers into Nejmeh Square which houses parliament's building.

Riot police several times tried to push protesters away from the square as demonstrators hurled plastic water bottles on them amid appeals from the organizers to keep the protest peaceful.

Ninety-seven out of 128 MPs had voted in favor of extending parliament's term as three judges of the 10-member Constitutional Council have failed to attend four sessions so far, depriving the council of the needed quorum to rule on challenges.

On Friday, parliament's extended 17-month term entered into force as the Council failed to meet to issue a ruling on petitions filed by President Michel Suleiman and the Change and Reform bloc against the extension.

In April, “Raise your Voice” hacked around 15 Lebanese government websites demanding an improvement in living standards.

It had previously vowed to continue hacking the government sites until the Lebanese people earn the rights they are asking for and until living standards are improved.