Kulluna Li Beirut” gathering head, former minister Muhammad Choucair, regretted the protest movements that took place on the beach of the port of Sidon this morning, saying in a statement that “some people’s insistence on imposing restrictions and conditions on beachgoers is a confiscation of people’s freedom in contradiction with Lebanese laws.” He stressed that “in the event of any violation of the law or offensive behavior, the responsibility for addressing and preventing it belongs to the state and the security services and not to the municipality or clerics.” He added: “Attempts to incite and mobilize for a protest demonstration against the dresscode of beach goers is contrary to the law and constitutes an infringement on pulic liberties, especially since the beach is the property of the general public of all groups and not the property of a specific group.” Choucair, thus, called on the state to “take the initiative and set standards that respect the right of citizens to practice their hobbies within the controls guaranteed by the law without the interference of any party.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon