Sayyed Nasrallah Speech on Protests on Depicting Sayyed Nasrallah on 06-06-2006
Daily Star, 06-6-2006.
BEIRUT: Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said Monday that many Lebanese believe satirical political sketches broadcast by "a certain television station which I will not name" are a "red line that should not be crossed." Thousands of Hizbullah sympathizers took to the streets of Beirut late Thursday and early Friday to protest the depiction of Nasrallah - a spiritual figure, in a satirical program by TV station LBCI on Thursday night.
Speaking in a news conference on Monday, Nasrallah gave his version of the events that have shaken the country for the past few days.
"On Thursday night, a large section of the Lebanese population sent out a clear message that they will not tolerate satirical sketches that tarnish the dignity of any individual regardless of their social rank, class or political and religious title. This is a red line that no one should cross," Nasrallah told reporters at Hizbullah`s headquarters in Beirut`s southern suburbs.
Shortly after the press conference, the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, MP Michel Aoun, said Hizbullah was not guilty of provoking last week`s riots, adding that the group had assumed responsibility by trying to calm the protesters.
Nasrallah dismissed allegations that the riots were premeditated with the aim of creating upheaval in an already shaky political situation.
"We should stress that the action was spontaneous despite some people`s claims that it was an organized act," he said. "Had Hizbullah decided to demonstrate, I assure you that you would have seen a much, much larger number of people in complete organization. And we wouldn`t have done it under the cover of darkness."
He said that party officials, once informed of the riots, had immediately dispatched a number of Hizbullah members, including MPs, to "calm the situation down" in order to avert further escalation.
Nasrallah said that Hizbullah "partially admits responsibility for the street riots. However, most of the blame falls on those who tried to add fuel to the fire, by exaggerating the size of the destruction and politically exploiting the events with the aim of feeding sectarian dissent and sparking internal conflict."
Nasrallah said people would have had a right to fear more violence had the demonstrators "acted differently."
"If we look at the situation from a more realistic perspective and compare the minimal damage caused to the extent of fear and feelings of humiliation, we see that the rioters maintained a degree of moral, legitimate and national responsibility," he argued.
Nasrallah described as "fabrication and lies" a statement issued by the March 14 Forces claiming that demonstrators attacked three people in Achrafieh.
"The [March 14] camp talked about rioters attacking tourist and commercial centers, attempting to destroy worship places and invading residential areas," he said. "None of this is accurate. Where are these places? Show me and Hizbullah will take responsibility."
Nasrallah also suggested drafting "a code of honor" by which each of the opposing parties would abide by certain guidelines and ethics in directing political criticism in the media and in public speeches.
"During one of the national dialogue sessions, I suggested that we adopt such code. But it seems they want to continue carrying out fabricated campaigns, mislead the public and encourage civil strife," he said.
Nasrallah said he appreciated the apology of the TV program`s producer, Charbel Khalil, but held LBCI fully responsible"
"I doubt they realize this responsibility," he said, "because its management should have realized how the Lebanese react to sensitive issues; they should have predicted that such programs can help instigate sectarian strife."
Nasrallah stressed that his group was not against "the freedom of expression, which cost Hizbullah many martyrs during the last two decades, when others were protesting and still are for being beaten by sticks or fire hoses."
While stressing that Hizbullah would not press charges, Nasrallah said he expects the Information Ministry, the National Audiovisual Media Council and the government to "proceed with their official investigation and decide each party`s liability or rights through the courts."
"Hizbullah is willing to pay the cost of damages [caused by rioters], to people come forward and show us," he said.
When asked whether the riots would have negative repercussion on the joint understanding between his group and Aoun`s, Nasrallah answered that relations with the FPM were "fine."
"When I met with General Aoun," he said, "I told him this is not an alliance, but a cooperation of two sides."
Following the press conference, Nasrallah - accompanied by Hizbullah`s number two, Sheikh Naim Qassem - visited leading Shiite cleric Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah to update him on the events.
Aoun`s comments confirmed what Nasrallah had said, adding that the understanding was "behind the stability that prevails in the country."
"The agreement between us and Hizbullah is the base for the national dialogue. Without it, there is no national dialogue table," he told reporters at his residence in Rabieh.
Aoun said that last week`s events should not create fears of another civil war: "I reassure the Lebanese that no one can shake stability." Aoun said that the presence of the FPM and Hizbullah, which he described as two of the main forces in the country, would stop any attempt to create civil disturbances.
Aoun defended Hizbullah`s behavior during the riots and said that the party "took responsibility for what happened." He, on the other hands, accused the government of playing a role in stirring people against what happened instead of containing the situation.
Regarding Aoun`s relationship with MP Saad Hariri`s Future Movement, Aoun said: "Do not tell me about the Future movement or about its media outlets, because if we wanted to reply on their media, we would have burned the TV."
Aoun also reiterated his support for Hizbullah`s continuing possession of arms.
"Resistance," he said, "cannot be achieved by the use of lettuce and tomatoes, but through weapons."
BEIRUT: Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said Monday that many Lebanese believe satirical political sketches broadcast by "a certain television station which I will not name" are a "red line that should not be crossed." Thousands of Hizbullah sympathizers took to the streets of Beirut late Thursday and early Friday to protest the depiction of Nasrallah - a spiritual figure, in a satirical program by TV station LBCI on Thursday night.
Speaking in a news conference on Monday, Nasrallah gave his version of the events that have shaken the country for the past few days.
"On Thursday night, a large section of the Lebanese population sent out a clear message that they will not tolerate satirical sketches that tarnish the dignity of any individual regardless of their social rank, class or political and religious title. This is a red line that no one should cross," Nasrallah told reporters at Hizbullah`s headquarters in Beirut`s southern suburbs.
Shortly after the press conference, the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, MP Michel Aoun, said Hizbullah was not guilty of provoking last week`s riots, adding that the group had assumed responsibility by trying to calm the protesters.
Nasrallah dismissed allegations that the riots were premeditated with the aim of creating upheaval in an already shaky political situation.
"We should stress that the action was spontaneous despite some people`s claims that it was an organized act," he said. "Had Hizbullah decided to demonstrate, I assure you that you would have seen a much, much larger number of people in complete organization. And we wouldn`t have done it under the cover of darkness."
He said that party officials, once informed of the riots, had immediately dispatched a number of Hizbullah members, including MPs, to "calm the situation down" in order to avert further escalation.
Nasrallah said that Hizbullah "partially admits responsibility for the street riots. However, most of the blame falls on those who tried to add fuel to the fire, by exaggerating the size of the destruction and politically exploiting the events with the aim of feeding sectarian dissent and sparking internal conflict."
Nasrallah said people would have had a right to fear more violence had the demonstrators "acted differently."
"If we look at the situation from a more realistic perspective and compare the minimal damage caused to the extent of fear and feelings of humiliation, we see that the rioters maintained a degree of moral, legitimate and national responsibility," he argued.
Nasrallah described as "fabrication and lies" a statement issued by the March 14 Forces claiming that demonstrators attacked three people in Achrafieh.
"The [March 14] camp talked about rioters attacking tourist and commercial centers, attempting to destroy worship places and invading residential areas," he said. "None of this is accurate. Where are these places? Show me and Hizbullah will take responsibility."
Nasrallah also suggested drafting "a code of honor" by which each of the opposing parties would abide by certain guidelines and ethics in directing political criticism in the media and in public speeches.
"During one of the national dialogue sessions, I suggested that we adopt such code. But it seems they want to continue carrying out fabricated campaigns, mislead the public and encourage civil strife," he said.
Nasrallah said he appreciated the apology of the TV program`s producer, Charbel Khalil, but held LBCI fully responsible"
"I doubt they realize this responsibility," he said, "because its management should have realized how the Lebanese react to sensitive issues; they should have predicted that such programs can help instigate sectarian strife."
Nasrallah stressed that his group was not against "the freedom of expression, which cost Hizbullah many martyrs during the last two decades, when others were protesting and still are for being beaten by sticks or fire hoses."
While stressing that Hizbullah would not press charges, Nasrallah said he expects the Information Ministry, the National Audiovisual Media Council and the government to "proceed with their official investigation and decide each party`s liability or rights through the courts."
"Hizbullah is willing to pay the cost of damages [caused by rioters], to people come forward and show us," he said.
When asked whether the riots would have negative repercussion on the joint understanding between his group and Aoun`s, Nasrallah answered that relations with the FPM were "fine."
"When I met with General Aoun," he said, "I told him this is not an alliance, but a cooperation of two sides."
Following the press conference, Nasrallah - accompanied by Hizbullah`s number two, Sheikh Naim Qassem - visited leading Shiite cleric Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah to update him on the events.
Aoun`s comments confirmed what Nasrallah had said, adding that the understanding was "behind the stability that prevails in the country."
"The agreement between us and Hizbullah is the base for the national dialogue. Without it, there is no national dialogue table," he told reporters at his residence in Rabieh.
Aoun said that last week`s events should not create fears of another civil war: "I reassure the Lebanese that no one can shake stability." Aoun said that the presence of the FPM and Hizbullah, which he described as two of the main forces in the country, would stop any attempt to create civil disturbances.
Aoun defended Hizbullah`s behavior during the riots and said that the party "took responsibility for what happened." He, on the other hands, accused the government of playing a role in stirring people against what happened instead of containing the situation.
Regarding Aoun`s relationship with MP Saad Hariri`s Future Movement, Aoun said: "Do not tell me about the Future movement or about its media outlets, because if we wanted to reply on their media, we would have burned the TV."
Aoun also reiterated his support for Hizbullah`s continuing possession of arms.
"Resistance," he said, "cannot be achieved by the use of lettuce and tomatoes, but through weapons."
