Lebanon: Anger and condemnation of the assassination of Luqman Salim

Reactions to the assassination of Lebanese researcher and political activist Luqman Salim, found dead in a car in the south of the country, poured in on Thursday.

In the first reaction, the Future Movement, led by Prime Minister designate Saad Hariri, condemned in “the strongest terms this heinous crime”.

The movement, whose founder Rafik Hariri was assassinated in 2005, has warned of the dangers of reverting to a series of assassinations and targeting activists.

And he called on the relevant judicial and security authorities to reveal the truth as quickly as possible.

 On the other hand, Interim Interior Minister Mohamed Fahmy has proclaimed in press releases that what happened today is “a horrible and doomed crime”.

The minister assured that he had contacted the leaders of the security services to follow the repercussions of the assassination of Luqman Salim.

Former Lebanese Ambassador to Jordan Tracy Chamoun wrote on her Twitter account: “Luqman Salim had an opinion. Just as I was, in what I said, an opinion. When different opinions are not tolerated to the point of murder or treason, they are indicative of ends. The end of the country (..) “.

For his part, former justice minister Ashraf Rifi said Luqman’s assassination “is part of the series of intimidation and mouth shutdowns.”

And Lebanese security sources reported earlier Thursday that researcher and political activist Luqman Salim was found dead hours after his disappearance.

Sources told “Sky News Arabia” that Salim was shot dead in the head in the Nabatieh area of ​​southern Lebanon.

Social media pioneers shared a photo of Luqman in his car, as he was drenched in his blood.

The scholar and his late friend Makram Rabah tweeted hours before his friend’s body was found, saying it was missing when he returned from a visit to southern Lebanon.

The late Salim was known for his strong opposition to the influential Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

The deceased had more than once revealed that he had received death threats and had shown some in public.