JEDDAH: A viral video which showed a group of men assaulting a Syrian refugee in Lebanon, which caused an uproar on social media, has led to Lebanese security forces detaining the assailants.
Lebanese MP Nohad Machnouk said in a Twitter post Tuesday, that “The Internal Security Forces arrested the young men who attacked the Syrian refugee.”
On Tuesday night, activists on social media circulated a video of young Lebanese men forcing a Syrian refugee to cheer for the Lebanese army, and insult Syria and its people, while they beat him.
While the widely circulated clip has been denounced by Syrians and Lebanese alike, using an Arabic hashtag that translates as “No to racism,” many rallied behind the attackers too.
Social networking sites have witnessed a heated debate between Syrians and Lebanese over the past few days, following army raids on refugee camps in Arsal that saw dozens arrested and four Syrians killed.
The raids prompted Syrians to demand a demonstration against the Lebanese army and to call for an investigation into the deaths. Many Lebanese citizens were angered by these demands, further exacerbating the already tense situation between the two nationalities.
Prominent Lebanese celebrities including singer Maya Diab and actress Nadine Al-Rassi have used social media to demand that Syrian refugees respect the Lebanese army or go home.
Meanwhile, Lebanese President Michel Aoun called on his citizens Monday not to escalate the situation, stressing that his country is working to return Syrian refugees, but without “incitement and hatred.”
Lebanese MP Nohad Machnouk said in a Twitter post Tuesday, that “The Internal Security Forces arrested the young men who attacked the Syrian refugee.”
On Tuesday night, activists on social media circulated a video of young Lebanese men forcing a Syrian refugee to cheer for the Lebanese army, and insult Syria and its people, while they beat him.
While the widely circulated clip has been denounced by Syrians and Lebanese alike, using an Arabic hashtag that translates as “No to racism,” many rallied behind the attackers too.
Social networking sites have witnessed a heated debate between Syrians and Lebanese over the past few days, following army raids on refugee camps in Arsal that saw dozens arrested and four Syrians killed.
The raids prompted Syrians to demand a demonstration against the Lebanese army and to call for an investigation into the deaths. Many Lebanese citizens were angered by these demands, further exacerbating the already tense situation between the two nationalities.
Prominent Lebanese celebrities including singer Maya Diab and actress Nadine Al-Rassi have used social media to demand that Syrian refugees respect the Lebanese army or go home.
Meanwhile, Lebanese President Michel Aoun called on his citizens Monday not to escalate the situation, stressing that his country is working to return Syrian refugees, but without “incitement and hatred.”
