Lebanon Crisis Obstructs Aid to The Underprivileged

The moon is seen over Al-Amin Mosque on the second day of the holy month of Ramadan in Beirut, Lebanon May 18, 2018. Image used for illustrative purposes. REUTERS/ Jamal Saidi
The moon is seen over Al-Amin Mosque on the second day of the holy month of Ramadan in Beirut, Lebanon May 18, 2018. Image used for illustrative purposes. REUTERS/ Jamal Saidi
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Lebanon Crisis Obstructs Aid to The Underprivileged

The moon is seen over Al-Amin Mosque on the second day of the holy month of Ramadan in Beirut, Lebanon May 18, 2018. Image used for illustrative purposes. REUTERS/ Jamal Saidi
The moon is seen over Al-Amin Mosque on the second day of the holy month of Ramadan in Beirut, Lebanon May 18, 2018. Image used for illustrative purposes. REUTERS/ Jamal Saidi

The holy month of Ramadan comes this year amid two major crises that cast a hefty shadow over Lebanon. The outbreak of the novel coronavirus imposes social distancing measures, preventing families from reuniting around Iftar banquets, while banking procedures stop the more fortunate to withdraw sufficient funds to support those in need.

Despite all these obstacles, preparations for the holy month continued with the available capabilities.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Sharia Judge and head of Mount Lebanon Zakat Fund, Sheikh Mohammed Hani al-Jouzou said: “The charitable kitchens in Dar Al Iftaa have opened their doors to prepare fresh meals to be delivered to needy families by the municipalities.”

He added that charitable organizations, which are affiliated to the endowments or to civil society groups, launched a complete census of underprivileged families, to provide them with food supplies.

Fida Attar, official at Ashghalouna – an entity within the Social Welfare Institution (Dar al-Aytam) - told Asharq Al-Awsat that the association was committed to helping the registered families, but underlined the presence of financial difficulties due to the scarce donations as a result of banking restrictions on withdrawals.

“There are difficulties in individual assistance. A large number of Lebanese have been donating to needy families during the month of Ramadan. But banking measures have prevented depositors from obtaining the necessary funds,” Attar noted.

The director of the Lebanese Center for Research and Consulting in Sidon, Hassan Qutub, said that the relevant organizations have adapted their operations to the measures imposed by the curfew.

He explained that banquets that used to gather needy families in restaurants would be canceled. Instead, fresh meals would be delivered right to their doorstep. Some associations sought to provide other supplies, including infant milk, he said.

Qutub stressed that the financial situation and the outbreak of the coronavirus would prevent families from reuniting around Iftar dinners during the holy month.



Marzouki’s Case Referred to Anti-Terrorism Unit, Former Tunisian President Faces 20 New Charges

Former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki (AFP)
Former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki (AFP)
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Marzouki’s Case Referred to Anti-Terrorism Unit, Former Tunisian President Faces 20 New Charges

Former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki (AFP)
Former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki (AFP)

Former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki announced on Tuesday that he had been informed his case had been transferred to the Anti-Terrorism Judicial Unit. He now faces 20 charges, including inciting internal unrest and spreading false information.
Marzouki wrote on X that his brother, Mokhles, was summoned on Monday to the police station of El Kantaoui (governorate of Sousse) to sign a document stating that Moncef Marzouki’s case had been referred to the Anti-Terrorist Judicial Unit.
Marzouki wrote that he had already been convicted to four and eight years in prison in two separate cases.
He concluded his post with a famous quote borrowed from Abu al-Qasim al-Shabi, “Night will no doubt dissipate.”
Last February, a Tunisian court sentenced former president Moncef Marzouki to eight years in prison in absentia.
The charges against Marzouki, who lives in Paris, stemmed from remarks he made that authorities said violated laws and triggered incitement to overthrow the government.
Marzouki served as the first democratically elected president of Tunisia from 2011 to 2014.
This is the second time Moncef Marzouki has been sentenced for comments made at demonstrations and on social media. In December 2021, he received a four-year sentence for undermining state security.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Defence Minister Khaled S'hili announced that Tunisia's national army had dismantled terrorist camps, neutralized 62 landmines, and seized various materials and equipment in 2024, as part of ongoing efforts in the fight against terrorism.
As of October 31, the Tunisian army had conducted 990 anti-terrorist operations in suspected areas, including large-scale operations in the country's mountainous regions. These operations involved over 19,500 military personnel, according to Defense Minister Khaled S'hili, speaking at a joint session of the two chambers of parliament.
He then confirmed that these operations led to the arrest of around 695 smugglers and the seizure of 375,000 drug pills.