{"id":780108,"date":"2026-08-03T07:38:59","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T07:38:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/?p=780108"},"modified":"2026-08-03T08:05:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T08:05:14","slug":"reactions-pour-in-after-news-of-riad-salamehs-hunger-strike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/en\/780108\/reactions-pour-in-after-news-of-riad-salamehs-hunger-strike\/","title":{"rendered":"Reactions Pour In After News of Riad Salameh’s Hunger Strike"},"content":{"rendered":"

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News that former Banque du Liban governor Riad Salameh has begun a hunger strike while in detention has sparked strong reactions across Lebanon.<\/p>

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Salameh, who served as Lebanon’s central bank governor for 30 years, has become one of the central figures associated with the country’s financial collapse, which wiped out the life savings of hundreds of thousands of depositors and devastated the economy. He has repeatedly denied wrongdoing but is facing multiple corruption investigations in Lebanon and abroad.<\/p>

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After being transferred from Bhannes Hospital to Roumieh Prison a couple of days ago<\/a>, Salameh is reportedly refusing food, water, and his medication. His legal team and family say his health has significantly deteriorated and have called for him to be hospitalized under intensive medical supervision. A voice note from his treating physician, Dr. Alexandre Khoury, addressed to Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation Ahmad Hajjar, warned that his condition was worsening. Judicial authorities, however, have said that medical examinations found his condition to be stable and that he remains under medical supervision.<\/p>

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You can hear the voice note here:<\/strong><\/p>

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Here were some noteworthy reactions:<\/p>

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Ricardo Karam: “Lebanon does not need another selective prosecution”<\/h3>

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