Assassination of Prominent Lebanese Activist Points at One Perpetrator Only

Hours after his family and friends reported him missing, Lebanese security forces announced finding the body of prominent activist, publisher, and writer Lokman Slim; saying he was shot twice in the head while in his car near Sidon in southern Lebanon.

Coming from the southern Lebanese Shiite background, Slim was known for his harsh criticism of Hezbollah, the political faction highly popular amongst his social circles. Throughout his work, Slim's views have been described as anti-Hezbollah, which has urged the public to believe that the armed militia has killed him last night.

However, Lebanese social media users expressed their deep shock over the news of Slim's killing, especially that it comes exactly six months after the devastating Beirut explosion that killed 200 people. According to online comments, "Lebanese politicians have failed to hold the government accountable for the damage caused to Lebanon in light of the August blast, yet they seem quite active going after voices that dare to challenge or criticize them."

Several users have noted that Slim had already been reporting harassment by pro-Hezbollah people, who have tried to attack him and his family members in November 2019. They also posted photos of posters that were installed near the house, referring to him as a "traitor," in addition to a poster reading: "Glory to the gun silencer."

Medics evacuate the body of prominent Lebanese activist and intellectual Lokman Slim from the spot where he was found dead in his car, in the village of El-Aaddousiye, near the southern Lebanese city of Sidon (Saida), on February 4, 2021. Slim, a Shiite Muslim secular intellectual known for his opposition to the Shiite movement Hezbollah, had not been heard from by his family since getting in his car on February 3 evening to drive back to Beirut from south Lebanon. (MAHMOUD ZAYYAT / AFP)
 

Following news of Lokman Slim's murder, a tweet by Hezbollah's chief's son Jawad Nasrallah sparked wide condemnation, as he hinted that "what some think of as a loss is a gain to others," which was interpreted as his response to Lokman's assassination.

Moreover, Twitter users expressed their deep concern that their country will soon witness more assassinations targeting individuals, who speak up against the corruption of the political elite, remembering the Iraqi scenario where independent journalists and activists continue to face killings and threats for years now.