Collective Action
March from Barbir towards the Governmental Serail and the Parliament Building
BEIRUT: Protesters returned to the Lebanon's streets Saturday, marching under the slogan “You will pay the price.”
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Barbir, south Beirut, then set off on a march towards Riad al-Solh Square in the city's Downtown area.
“Early elections are our primary demand ... we will continue [to protest] even if the number of protesters has decreased,” a woman told the TV channel Al-Jadeed.
Prime Minister Hassan Diab’s government was formed over a month ago, and is currently deciding whether to pay or default on a $1.2 billion Eurobond payment, due on March 9.
Lebanon is experiencing its worst economic crisis in decades. A dollar shortage has caused a sharp devaluation of the national currency, hundreds of business have closed down and thousands of people have lost their jobs.
The presence of the coronavirus in Lebanon has made the situation in the country even more fragile, with many residents dissatisfied with the government's policies to counter the spread of the disease.
Earlier Saturday, around 200 protesters, mostly women, gathered in front of the Higher Islamic Shiite Council.
Their primary demand was to increase the age at which children remain in the the custody of divorced mothers belonging to Shiite sect.
Under the current law, a Shiite mother is granted custody of sons up to two years old and daughters up to seven years old.