UN Special Rapporteurs criticized Thursday, February 2 "
the slow progress
" of the investigation into the assassination two years ago of the Lebanese activist and intellectual Lokman Slim, known for his critical positions towards the Shiite movement Hezbollah.
“
Two years after the murder of Mr. Slim, no one responsible for his assassination has been identified and there is little chance that the ongoing investigation will succeed in the near future
”, indicated the four human rights experts, including Morris Tidball-Binz, Rapporteur on summary or arbitrary executions.
“
It is incumbent on the Lebanese authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and bring to justice the perpetrator(s) of this heinous crime.
Failure to initiate a prompt and effective investigation may in itself constitute a violation of the right to life
,” they said in a statement.
One of the few dissenting voices
On February 4, 2021 Lokman Slim, 58, was found dead in his car, shot dead, in the south of the country, after having disappeared the day before.
The assassination of this activist and researcher, whose multifaceted work focused in particular on the memory of the Lebanese civil war (1975-1990), had shocked Lebanon.
A staunch supporter of secularism, from the upper Shiite bourgeoisie, he was one of the few dissident voices within his community.
Shortly before his assassination, he repeated in television interviews that Hezbollah was taking Lebanon hostage on behalf of Iran.
Prior to his death, he and his family had been subjected to acts of intimidation, harassment and threats, underlined the experts, who are mandated by the Human Rights Council but do not speak at the national level. UN name.
Protect freedom of expression
“
Clarifying the circumstances surrounding the violent death of Mr. Lokman Slim and bringing those responsible to justice is also part of the State's obligation to protect freedom of expression
,” they recalled.
"
The culture of impunity not only absolves Mr. Slim's killers of their responsibility, it also has a chilling effect on civil society, because of the warning given to other activists and committed intellectuals, thus incited to self-censor
,” they stressed.
