Lebanon: Prominent Hezbollah critic discovered killed in his automotive

Lokman Slim, a outstanding Lebanese mental and vocal critic of the militant Hezbollah group, was discovered lifeless in his automotive on Thursday morning, having been shot a number of occasions at shut vary, a safety official reported.
The 58-year-old had lengthy been threatened for his anti-Hezbollah stance. He had been a number one secular voice in Lebanon’s Shiite group.
“He was found dead in his car, killed by a bullet to the head,” a senior safety official informed AFP on situation of anonymity.
A forensic coroner confirmed that Slim had been shot within the chest, head and neck. The safety official additionally stated that his ID, telephone and gun had been taken.
Slim’s household had posted on social media that that they had not heard from him since Wednesday night. He was discovered close to the village of Addoussieh, in southern Lebanon, as he was returning to Beirut.
A ‘horrific crime’
Interior Minister Mohammed Fahmi known as the homicide a “horrific crime,” in keeping with native media.
Slim’s sister, Rasha al-Ameer, informed AFP that he had been focused as a result of “he had a political stance.”
“It is a big tragedy,” stated Makram Rabah, a detailed buddy and historical past lecturer. “Anyone who knows Lokman they know who his enemies are.”
Lokman was the founding father of the Umam Documentation and Research group which geared toward archiving Lebanon’s violent previous in an try to lift consciousness and forestall additional violence.
Slim lived along with his spouse within the southern suburbs of Beirut the place he additionally ran a movie manufacturing home and held common debates, political boards and artwork reveals.
Years of threats
Hezbollah supporters usually criticized Slim for being a US puppet. Some additionally plastered messages over his Beirut house calling him a traitor and saying his “time will come” following pro-democracy protests in 2019.
Slim had been a powerful opponent of Hezbollah’s grip on energy and had known as for sovereignty and variety in Lebanon. He is likely one of the most outstanding intellectuals to be killed within the nation because the assassination of historian Samir Kassir in 2005.
His homicide got here six months after the devastating explosion at Beirut’s port which rocked the already precarious Mediterranean nation.

Critics lay the blame for the explosion on Hezbollah and its affect over customs and port safety.