A few hundred Lebanese youth gathered on Monday afternoon in front of the "Liberty Tent" at Martyrs' Square in protest against Sunday's riots, and the resulting assault on the Mar Maroun Church. Monday's protesters, mainly composed of student members of the Lebanese Forces (LF), in addition to Future Movement and Progressive Socialist Party supporters, a few scattered independents and Phalange members, marched the few blocs from the Square to Mar Maroun Church.
Despite its relatively small size and brief nature, the rally was tightly guarded by Internal Security Forces and army personnel, who accompanied the students on their less than 10 minute walk to the church. Future Movement member Mohammad Halawani, 21, said the rally "is in principle a reply to what happened Sunday," in reference to a peaceful demonstration against published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed that quickly turned into a violent riot targeting the Danish Consulate offices in Achrafieh. "We denounce the riots and attacking the churches," he added. "Attacking a church is just like attacking a mosque and vice-versa."
| No it's not. Attacking a mosque is much worse. Ask any turban. |
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