Six Noteworthy Stories You Might Have Missed in Lebanon This Week (3/29)

You’re busy, we get it. No sweat. Here’s some of the most important news stories you might have missed from the past week.

1. Manal Assi’s Husband Could Face Death Penalty

A family handout photo shows Manal Assi, right, and her husband Mohammad Nhaily. (Photo Credit: The Daily Star)

A judge has recommended Mohammad Adnan Al-Nhaily, accused of beating his wife to death with a pressure cooker, be sentenced to death.

According to the Daily Star, Judge Fouad Murad charged Nhaily with premeditated murder. The indictment states that Nhaily got into a fight with his wife, Manal Assi, which turned violent after Nhaily accused her of cheating on him with another man.

The case has been referred to criminal court.

2. Two Self-Immolation Incidents in Lebanon This Week

(Photo Credit: ” target=”_new”>Naharnet, a Syrian woman identified as Mariam Khawli, 40, set herself on fire on Wednesday in front of the UN aid center in Tripoli. She was protesting against the lack of supplies for refugees. Khawli was transferred to Al-Salam hospital and is recovering.

Meanwhile, in the western Bekaa, Fawzi Nakhle, an owner of a gas station which was forced to close, also set himself on fire. Nakhle was transferred to Chtaura Hospital for treatment.

3. Labor Ministry Opens Hotline for Workers Suffering Abuse

A file photo shows foreign female laborers in Lebanon. (Photo Credit: NOW Media)

Labor Minister Sejaan Azzi announced this week the formation of a hotline for foreign female workers suffering from abuse and ill-treatment.

That hotline number is: 01540114.

4. Lebanon Principal Fired For Caning Students

A still taking from the YouTube video shows the school principal caning a student. (Still via The Daily Star)

Moussa Daher, the principal of the Zahrani branch of the Makassed School, was fired this week after a video showing him caning students went viral on the Internet.

In the video, students are forced to kneel on chairs as Daher is seen slapping the shoeless soles of their feet as they cry and beg him to stop. One student told the
“90% of our houses are built by Syrians. Stay a racist and leave your house”. (Photo Credit: “Not a Martyr” and “I am Not Naked” campaigns.

In this campaign, Lebanese citizens are taking selfies and posing with written messages of support such as: “I once met a Syrian who made both of us proud,” and “he did not escape death in his country to die of humiliation in your country.”

6. Labneh Could Contain Potentially Toxic Chemical

(Photo Credit: Khoury and Dairy Day, are being investigated after admitting they add Natamycin to their labneh products.

Natamycin is a potentially toxic chemical that could make their products unsafe for consumption. The case has been referred to Appellate Prosecution.