Protesters disrupt Lebanon MP’s dinner two nights in a row

Lebanese anti-government protesters have gathered outside restaurants after spotting Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) Member of Parliament Ziad Aswad having dinner in suburbs north of Beirut two nights in a row this week.

Disrupting MPs in bars and restaurants across Beirut has been a key tactic since December, with protesters rallying fellow demonstrators once high-profile figures have been spotted.

Avoir faim d'honneur est aussi une faim et qui ne peut percevoir la souffrance de celui qui a faim n'est pas humain #diwanbeirut #restaurants #لبنان_ينتفض #LebanonProtests pic.twitter.com/WxTwnK9c3L

— MJ Moawad (@MJMoawad) February 4, 2020

On Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, protesters vocalised objections to MPs dining in expensive restaurants while national poverty rates are climbing rapidly amid a worsening economic crisis. Clashes broke out between supporters of the FPM and protesters both nights, resulting in significant damage to cars and some injuries.

مرافقو النائب زياد اسود يعتدون على الثوار أمام مطعم الديوان في #انطلياس
من بريد الصفحة #أخبار_الساحة #لبنان_ينتفض pic.twitter.com/BIatIbiD40

— أخبار الساحة (@Akhbaralsaha) February 4, 2020

Important to note that the bodyguards of the same MP assaulted protestors 2 nights in a row. This act of pressuring MPs, politicians or anyone affiliated to them to leave restaurants is turning into an organized campaign in #Lebanon #LebanonProtests pic.twitter.com/0nyrH8a9NN

— Luna Safwan – لونا صفوان (@LunaSafwan) February 6, 2020

After alleged attacks on protesters by some FPM bodyguards, an office belonging to the FPM, a Maronite Christian party which boasts President Michel Aoun, was burnt and vandalised in northern Akkar.

Following the attack on protesters by FPM supporters last night, an FPM office was burnt/vandalized in northern Akkar.#LebanonProtests #لبنان__ينتفض https://t.co/AUnVifTw1l

— Timour Azhari (@timourazhari) February 6, 2020

Aswad was seen at Diwan restaurant in Antelias, north of Beirut, on Tuesday, hidden behind an opaque white curtain, smoking shisha and eating with a large group of people. A small number of protesters gathered outside.

@ZiadAssouad
معاليك حاضرتنا بانو ما بتغلطوا وانكن خاليين من الفساد وكل شي..
واذا مقتنع بهالشي انا ما عندي مشكل..
بس مخالفة القانون ١٧٤ المتعلق بالحد من التدخين شو؟
مبين عليي ارغيلتين.. ما بعرف اذا في غيرن..
بتقبل ينعمل ظبط فيهن؟#زياد_اسود#انطلياس pic.twitter.com/ovP8i87JXM

— minmaken (@Minmaken) February 4, 2020

Videos released of subsequent exchanges between Aswad and protesters from Tuesday evening show the incensed MP telling protesters that this “nonsense is over”.

بالصورة: النائب #ايدي_معلوف كان برفقة النائب #زياد_اسود في مطعم ديوان بيروت في انطلياس حيث وقع الاشكال مع الثوار @ZiadAssouad pic.twitter.com/KhDMfcWu2e

— Al Jadeed News (@ALJADEEDNEWS) February 4, 2020

Aswad told news channel Al-Jadeed, between hiccups, in an interview after leaving Diwan restaurant that “They [protesters] assaulted us, our dignity and our personal freedom. They accused us of corruption… they should know their limits”.

Fellow FPM MPs Maalouf and Elias Bou Saab later turned up in a show of solidarity with Aswad.

#زياد_اسود بعد الاشكال مع الثوار في #انطلياس : كرامتنا ليست ممسحة عند احد والثورة ليست حركات "زعرنة"https://t.co/w5J3u8LeLG pic.twitter.com/AQEUOMKd3k

— Al Jadeed News (@ALJADEEDNEWS) February 4, 2020

Former minister of economy and trade, Raed Khoury, was also filmed being shouted at by protests while in a wine bar in Beirut yesterday.

مع رائد خوري
من بريد الصفحة #أخبار_الساحة #لبنان_ينتفض pic.twitter.com/BGOEUjZVkb

— أخبار الساحة (@Akhbaralsaha) February 5, 2020

رائد خوري وزير سابق.
رائد خوري هو يلي وقّف ميليشيات المولدات. عشو هايشين ضدو ؟؟؟ شعب غشيم. شعب رتش. شعب جاهل. #ثورة_التفه pic.twitter.com/PSx2gXGsSn

— Elie A_J (@eajelie2) February 5, 2020

Aswad was spotted, once again, dining at an expensive establishment in Jounieh, north of Beirut, yesterday.

In a viral video shared on Twitter, Aswad supporters are seen attacking protesters outside a restaurant, punching one man in the face. The man was hit after facing questions about why he was in a Christian area in Jounieh, despite originally coming from Tripoli in the north.

جزء من الفيديو الذي يحمل كافة أشكال الإهانات والحقارة لا أستطيع نشر المزيد، وبالتأكيد لا يمثل أهل كسروان. يمثل نفسه كحقير ومن معه. وحلوا عن أهل طرابلس.
ضب زعرانك 🍊 يا ريس @General_Aoun pic.twitter.com/OVfscI18pU

— Yumna Fawaz (@yumnafawaz) February 5, 2020

Lebanon is a country heavily divided by sectarianism, where positions in government are designated based on religion. Protests which have swept the country since 17 October have sought to topple this sectarian political system which has been in place since the end of the Civil War in 1990.