2001 Lebanon Protest (7 August) Explained

In 7 August 2001 (Arabic: ٧ آب ٢٠٠١) an Anti-Syrian occupation demonstration[1] took place in Lebanon, which turned violent when the joint Lebanese-Syrian security system tried to repress the revolt, and resulted in the arrest of hundreds without legal justification,[2] during the tenure of the pro-Syrian president Emile Lahoud.[3] On that day, the security forces attacked hundreds of young activists, mainly from the Christian parties, including the Free Patriotic Movement,[4] the National Liberal Party and other non-partisan neutral activists in front of the Justice Palace in Beirut and engaged in a campaign of beatings and arrests that was characterized by extreme ferocity.[5]

This day is considered a turning point in the history of Lebanon when the resistance against the Syrian presence in Lebanon has started,[6] and climaxed in the 2005 Cedar Revolution which led to the complete Syrian withdrawal in 2005.[7]

History

By the end of the Lebanese Civil War in 1990's, the Christians felt defeated, especially after the occupation done by Syria,[8] [9] and their leaders Michel Aoun ending up exiled and Samir Geagea imprisoned.[10]

In 2000, Christian-Maronite Patriarch Nassrallah Boutros Sfeir[11] campaigned in Mount Lebanon for the reconciliation of Christians and Druze,[6] [12] after a dispute that goes back to the civil war, which is believed to have inspired the 7 August 2001 revolt.

Moreover, the withdrawal of Israel from the South of Lebanon in 2000,[13] encouraged even more the total independence from the Syrians.

On the day of the 7 August 2001, the Lebanese security forces arrested hundreds of people who were demonstrating for freedom of expression and against the Syrian regime, and put them in prison without any arrest warrants or legal justifications.

In 2005, the assassination of the prime minister Rafik Hariri led to a massive Cedar Revolution which resulted in the total withdrawal of the Syrian troops from Lebanon on April 30, 2005.[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lebanon.com Newswire - Local News August 7 2001. 2021-07-08. www.lebanon.com.
  2. Web site: 7 آب... يوم ضاق لبنان بالديموقراطية. 2021-07-08. الأخبار. ar.
  3. Web site: Lebanon's Pro-Syrian President Consults on New Government Voice of America - English. 2021-07-08. www.voanews.com. en.
  4. Web site: مناضلو 7 آب 2001 في 'التيار'... هل فرّقتهم المصالح؟. 2021-07-08. annahar.com. en. 2021-07-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709151623/https://www.annahar.com/arabic/article/441633-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B6%D9%84%D9%88-7-%D8%A2%D8%A8-2001-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%87%D9%84-%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%87%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD. dead.
  5. Web site: 7 آب 2001 ...هل ننسى ؟. 2021-07-08. annahar.com. en. 2021-07-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709130322/https://www.annahar.com/arabic/article/257813-7-%D8%A2%D8%A8-2001-%D9%87%D9%84-%D9%86%D9%86%D8%B3%D9%89. dead.
  6. Web site: COMPU-VISION. 7 آب... الذكرى على وقع الفاجعة... 2021-07-08. AL AKHBAR CANADA. en.
  7. News: 2005-04-26. Syrian Troops Leave Lebanon After 29-Year Occupation. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-07-08. 0362-4331.
  8. News: 2018-04-25. Lebanon profile - Timeline. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-07-08.
  9. Web site: MIDDLE EAST: Syria and Lebanon. 2021-07-08. Council on Foreign Relations. en.
  10. Web site: Refugees. United Nations High Commissioner for. Refworld Lebanon: A visit of the Maronite Cardinal Patriarch, Mar Nasarallah Boutros Sfeir to the El-Chof (Chouf, Shouf, various spellings) area in August 2001; a 7 August 2001 "crackdown" that followed his visit; demonstrations in front of the Palace of Justice in Beirut on 9 August 2001. 2021-07-08. Refworld. en.
  11. Web site: 2019-05-13. Card. Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir dies aged 98 - Vatican News. 2021-07-08. www.vaticannews.va. en.
  12. Web site: 2013-08-07. 7 آب هو التاريخ المجيد… (بقلم فيرا بو منصف) (فيرا بو منصف). 2021-07-08. Lebanese Forces Official Website. en-US.
  13. Web site: 2000-05-24. Israel Leaves South Lebanon After 22 Years. 2021-07-08. Los Angeles Times. en-US.
  14. Web site: 2005-10-21. Lebanon's cedar revolution withers. 2021-07-08. The Guardian. en.

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