Christmas is lighting up Beirut's Darkness
The Palace of ‘Justice’…. What’s left of it. Photo credit: Dec. 17, 2020.
New Update
In another recent update concerning the Beirut blast, Fadi Sawan, the judicial investigator assigned for the Beirut case, was suspended from the investigations as two former ministers, who were accused of negligence, submitted a demand requesting that the case should be transferred to another judge.
As such, the two former ministers, Ali Hassan Khalil (finance) and Ghazi Zuaiter (works), did not attend the interrogation session held on the 16th of December, neither did caretaker prime minister Hassan Diab on the 18th of December.
The turn of events signified something: The Prevalence of a decadent state apparatus over the course of justice. Maybe the caretaker prime minister and the two ministers, were not responsible for the tragedy but the manner the case was hushed raised some eyebrows. As such, Lebanese who already live in a country where there is a shortage of electricity, high poverty, overwhelming unemployment, hyperinflation, and a stagnating economy, must now realize even their lives are worthless in the eyes of their leaders.
Joseph Bejjani, photo credit: MTV
Not only that, but it seems that something fowl is occurring behind the scenes. A few days ago, an ex-military photographer, Joseph Bejjani, was shot using a silenced gun when he was about to take his kids to school. Apparently, after digging around by investigative journalists, the man coincidentally declared his retirement after the Beirut Blast. However, he continued to take photos of foreign troop and UNIFIL deployments at the port. This had led many to speculate that at some instance, there was something he was not supposed to photograph; something of course that will get you killed. For now, there is not much information about the perpetrators who did this. All we can say is that his family’s Christmas has been ruined for good and may God have mercy on them.
Beirut during Christmas
The ceremony was held on 20th of December, photo credit: China News.
Lanterns being released in Beirut, Dec 20, 2020, photo credit: Euro News.
Even though people are still mourning over the blast, and municipalities are financially strained, Beirut is still gearing up for Christmas. For instance, Lebanese firefighters attended a Christmas tree setting-up ceremony next to the port, to commemorate those that fell during the blast.
On the same note, residents in Gemmayzeh area released lanterns during the lighting of a symbolic Christmas tree, in memory of the victims. Moreover, it was decorated with uniforms of firefighters and rescue workers as a way to pay tribute to those who died in the blast.
In an effort to bring joy to locals still traumatized by the blast, the Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafes, Nightclubs & Pastries, launched the “Beirut City of Life” initiative which aims to revive Beirut’s once vibrant and lively Gemmayze and Mar Mikhael neighborhoods. The event is composed of a series of fun activities, workshops, markets, a garage sale, live concerts, arts and crafts exhibitions, and more. During the first week of the initiative, the winning design for the Christmas Tree of Life competition will be unveiled. Furthermore, there will be a Christmas fair and gift distribution for children.