Dr. Mark O’Doherty / DrMark O'Doherty / DrMark O’Doherty
With political leaders having failed to restore economic stability and basic human rights in Lebanon, clashes between police and demonstrators escalated in January 2020; injuring hundreds of people and marking the most violent weekend of protests in Beirut since the beginning of mass anti-government demonstrations in October 2019 - the Lebanese having finally had enough of a system that has enriched the political elite while failing to build a stable economy or provide basics like reliable running water or consistent waste management. Also, political elites have been reluctant to heed the key demand of demonstrators - that they relinquish power and allow an interim cabinet to pass fundamental governance reforms... Hence this book endeavours to improve rule of law in Lebanon. This includes of finally putting an end to corruption among political parties and public servants in Lebanon - as corruption is deeply institutionalised in Lebanon, and hence needs to be addressed urgently by Prime Minister Hassan Diab. Covid-19: 'We fear hunger, not coronavirus: Lebanon protesters return in rage'. Lebanon’s coronavirus lockdown has sent an economy already in deep trouble into freefall, and many are struggling to survive. Gino Raidy is an activist who was prominent during the October 2019 anti-government corruption protests. Now, with many fearing hunger and believing there is nothing left to lose, he is helping to keep demonstrators safe as they demand real and lasting change. Hence it is very important that Prime Minister Hassan Diab urgently restores economic stability and basic human rights in Lebanon, by co-operating and working together with activists such as Gino Raidy and Lebanon’s human rights movement.
