Lebanon Suspends License of Hezbollah-Linked NGO
On Tuesday, the Lebanese government put a halt to the operating license of Risrat Association, an NGO associated with Hezbollah. This action followed their use of prominent locations to display images of a deceased Hezbollah leader.
On September 25, Risrat projected an image of Hassan Nasrallah, the notorious Hezbollah Secretary General. This came shortly after an Israeli airstrike in September 2024, which resulted in the deaths of Nasrallah and his successor, Hashem Saffieddin, just weeks into his tenure.
Nasrallah, who held power for two decades, had a reputation marred by numerous acts of terrorism. His final act involved ordering a barrage of rockets aimed at Israeli civilian targets. Although he faced declining popularity in Lebanon at the time of his death, Hezbollah has strived to portray him in a martyr-like light ever since.
Pigeon Rock, a notable landmark along Lebanon’s Mediterranean coast, has become a well-known tourist attraction. The Lebanese authorities were reluctant to allow its use by Hezbollah for political purposes. Consequently, Risrat was denied permission to project images onto Pigeon Rock during memorial events organized for Nasrallah and Saffieddin.
Despite this, thousands gathered on September 25 in anticipation, culminating in dramatic projections of Nasrallah and Saffieddin onto the rock. The crowd reacted enthusiastically, but the Lebanese government was far from pleased.
In an effort to mitigate backlash, Risrat included images of other Lebanese leaders in their display, such as the former prime minister and Hezbollah member, Rafik Hariri, who was assassinated. However, this attempt at political diversity didn’t impress the authorities, leading them to suspend Risrat’s operating license and initiate further investigations.
Interior Minister Ahmed al-Hajjar, who proposed this suspension to the cabinet, accused Risrat of infringing upon laws regarding public property and failing to obtain necessary approvals for activities that disrupted public order.
Information Minister Paul Morcos emphasized that the suspension was crucial to maintain public order while respecting constitutional rights. This pointed to Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s expressed intention to disband the Risrat Association entirely.
Salam noted that Risrat’s actions, including the misuse of public property and obstruction of public roads, justified their suspension and that of ongoing investigations.
In response, Hezbollah supporters and financiers in Iran expressed outrage over the suspension. A Tehran newspaper criticized the Lebanese government’s actions, arguing that they selectively targeted an arts organization linked to Hezbollah while largely ignoring Israel’s ongoing attacks.
The article referred to the suspension as more of a politically motivated decision rather than a legal one, highlighting concerns about Lebanon’s internal challenges, including economic corruption and crises.
