November 12. The day Lebanon lost a peaceful protester to the corruption that people have been fighting against for nearly four weeks now.
On Tuesday, Alaa Abou Fakher was shot and killed by a soldier as protesters attempted to block the main Khaldeh highway located south of Beirut. Though initial media reports claimed he had died on the spot, it was later revealed that he succumbed to the gunshot wounds upon arrival to the hospital.
Images and videos of the man in a pool of blood began circulating online and on WhatsApp just minutes after the horrific incident took place. In one of the videos, a police officer can be seen standing on the sidelines. He just watched from afar and did nothing.
*The videos and images are available online but we choose not to share such graphic content in line with ethical standards.
Abou Fakher was a member of the Choueifat Municipality and Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), according to The Daily Star. He was protesting alongside his wife and son when the soldier opened fire. It has been reported that the gunshots came following a verbal argument between the soldiers and protesters as a military vehicle was attempting to pass through Khaldeh prior to the roadblock. So one solider decided to "shoot and disperse [the protesters]."
The Lebanese army has since arrested the soldier who shot and killed Abou Fakher. An investigation into the incident has also been launched. But there is nothing that would bring justice to his family. His son and wife watched him as he bled to death because one solider decided to open fire on innocent citizens just because he could.
Protesters in Saida and Beirut paid tribute to Abou Fakher by forming a chain in his name and lighting up candles in his honor. People have been paying tribute to Abou Fakher on Twitter under the Arabic hashtag "Alaa Abou Fakher."
"Our revolution lost a strong fighter"
"Alaa believed it was a peaceful protest"
On Tuesday night, protesters across Lebanon blocked roads following President Michel Aoun's speech in which he advised people who "aren't satisfied with any of the decent leaders of the protests" to emigrate.
Roads were blocked in Beirut, Saida, and Naameh to name a few. The Lebanese Army intervened to reopen blocked roads in some areas. One such attempt led to the death of a peaceful protester.