Two questioned over Raouche Rock illumination, three summoned
Investigations in the file of violating PM Nawaf Salam’s order and illuminating the Raouche Rock with images of slain Hezbollah leaders Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine continued on Thursday with the interrogation of two people under the supervision of State Prosecutor Jamal al-Hajjar, the National News Agency said.
Hajjar ordered the release of one of them while the second was freed but faces possible further interrogation, NNA added, identifying the second individual as the owner of the laser projector through which the rock was illuminated.
Three more people have meanwhile been summoned for interrogation in the case on Friday, the agency said.
Hajjar had on Wednesday issued search and investigations warrants for two people involved in the unauthorized activity after they refused to appear before interrogators, NNA said.
The illumination of the iconic rock stirred controversy and division in recent weeks, as Salam urged local authorities to prevent any unauthorized usage of landmarks.
A Lebanese official told AFP on condition of anonymity that Hezbollah had "obtained the authorization" of the local authorities for the gathering on the Raouche seaside corniche "but without illuminating the rock."
In a statement Thursday, Salam said the organizers had "clearly violated the accord" with the local authorities, adding that he had requested the perpetrators' arrest.
A Hezbollah representative confirmed to AFP that the organizers had only requested permission for the gathering.
He said it was unclear which agency had authority to give permission for the light show on the rock and that they considered it was covered by "freedom of expression" under Lebanon's constitution.
The event was a show of force by the Shiite militant group and political party, which suffered serious blows in last year's war with Israel and has been under domestic and international pressure to give up its remaining arsenal since then.
Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar has said that it was not possible to halt the rock illumination activity due to the huge number of Hezbollah supporters who attended the event.
