Activists Assaulted after Chanting against Iran at Beirut Book Fair

At least two activists were beaten up Monday, one of them severely, after they chanted “Beirut Free, Iran Out!” at a section displaying pictures of slain Iranian general Qassem Soleimani at the Beirut International and Arab Book Fair at the Seaside Arena (previously known as BIEL).

MTV identified two of the activists as Shafik Bader and Nelly Qandil. It added that Bader’s cellphone was taken away by the attackers.

A force from the Internal Security Forces Intelligence Branch later arrived on the scene and launched investigations as a number of other activists arrived in solidarity.

The Lady of the Mountain Gathering later announced that members from the Gathering and others from the National Council to Lift the Iranian Occupation of Lebanon had “come under an attack” at the fair.

“They came under a flagrant attack for asking ‘who is Qassem Soleimani’ and why his picture was on display at a cultural fair,” the Gathering said, expressing its solidarity with the activists and calling on security authorities to launch a probe.

It also slammed “the presence of a security apparatus belonging to Hizbullah at a cultural fair” with the aim of “protecting a picture.”

The fair’s administration later decided to shut down the fair for Monday over security and safety concerns.