“Shiite opponents” of “Hezbollah” fear the fate of Luqman Salim

Lebanese opponents in general, and Shiites in particular, feel that the rope has tightened after the murder of researcher and political activist Luqman Salim, and they fear a list that includes a number of personalities who may be assassinated in succession, as happened in the stage that preceded and followed the assassination of the late Prime Minister Rafik. Hariri in 2005.
The Shiite opponent of Hezbollah, Ali Al-Amin, does not hide that there are fears of more killings, and that he has taken measures, even at the very least, to guarantee their safety, but at the same time underlines that the message of the Salim assassination “ goes beyond Shiite opposition to all voices that resemble a Luqman Salim voice, especially the voices that echoed after the October 17 uprising to express the falsity of the authority of the existing militias, led by ( Hezbollah).
In a statement to Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Amin does not rule out that this murder is a “first episode in a series of upcoming murders”, pointing out that the truth is that “it is an indication that we have entered a new stage that is dominated for safety ”, adding:“ Fear is a natural feeling. But it will not prevent us from adhering to the approach and path we were taking together with Selim … rather, his assassination will be a further incentive for us to remain loyal to the cause. “
Regarding the timing of the assassination, given that Salim has always been present, moving into Hezbollah-affiliated areas, Al-Amin says: “For a period, we used to hear sharp words and veiled threats against the opposition, then he moved on to demands .. . and it seems that it did not do its thing in terms of intimidation and silencing, so it may be that (Hezbollah) has decided to go on to kill ”, explaining that“ the volume of security surveillance in the south is so great that the party interferes With all the population details, then how can you make a breach at this level, either from America or from Israel without being aware of it. Either he is the perpetrator or he lets the murderers discover him to absolve himself. “
Al-Amin believes that incitement campaigns launched against the opposition are paving the way for the killings. It is not necessary for the killings to be preceded by direct threats, and he emphasizes that the international community must act, “so do not leave Lebanon and keep it governed by the mafias, and where the military and security authorities do what they want.” He says: “There is no doubt that an international positioning and rescue initiatives are required to end the authority that manages the process of ending the country and killing the people.”
For her part, opposition political activist Mona Fayyad makes fun of what is being circulated about the fact that the murder is an intelligence work aimed at internal discord, pointing out that “this is what they talked about after the murder of the late Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and the murders that followed, for which the International Court came to confirm that a person with whom he was affiliated (Hezbollah) carried out the operation. But whoever believes that the leadership did not know it, and here we are talking about an iron party that prevents a journalist from his environment who invites him to return to Lebanon from raising his voice. And he added, through “Asharq Al-Awsat”: “Is the party infiltrated by the Israelis in the southern region, which is completely under their control?” If this is true, then what is the benefit of resistance and why are we continuing this charade? Add that we do not understand Israel’s benefit in killing Luqman, especially if he is, as the party accuses him, an agent of himself and the United States! “
Fayyad emphasizes that the operation “is a message for all Lebanese, not for a specific group … for each sovereign party that wants to liberate Lebanon from Iran, for everyone who has an opinion and for everyone.” It is also a message to the international community that any negotiation on the Lebanese dossier must take place directly with Tehran.
Fayyad does not rule out that the focus is temporary on the Shiite opposition “so that they can be a message to the rest of the Shiites, especially since the situation within the party environment has become very unstable”, and said: “Ultimately we are We are isolated and our protection must be ensured by the security services and the people. We are not afraid. (Hezbollah) was afraid, so Saleem was killed. We ask for an international investigation, because the Lebanese judges are not protected and they are defenseless. ” Fayyad concluded, calling on the international community to help the Lebanese “to stop Tehran’s hand on their country.”