Lebanon: Two protesters attempt to self-immolate

Two Lebanese activists have attempted to self-immolate in front of the Military Court in Beirut on Friday, in protest against the continued detention of a number of activists from the anti-corruption movement You Stink.

A Red Cross medical unit attended the scene to treat the two activists who sustained burns according to You Stink activist Marwan Malouf.

Meanwile, protests against the detention of activists are scheduled to continue on Friday evening in front of the Lebanese Military Court.

The military judge, Riyad Abu Ghaida, had made a decision to release three activists who were held by the Military Court since 8 October. However, prominent activists Pierre Hashash and Warif Suleiman remain in custody.

Lawyers for the You Stink movement said that the court's decision to continue the detention of the two activists was political, adding that "judges are being subjected to political pressures to strike the movement and subdue activists."

According to the lawyers, the Military Court claims to have video evidence that Hashash and Suleiman had tampered with barbed wire barriers placed by security forces to prevent protesters from reaching al-Najma Square in downtown Beirut, which houses the parliament building.

Activists and lawyers have ridiculed the court's reasoning for the continued detention of the activists, claiming that there is a political decision to increase pressure upon their movement.

When the court's decision was announced, activists blocked the road in front of the Military Court in the Beirut National Museum area and promised to take further action to be announced at a later time.