The relatives of Lebanese nationals held hostage in Syria’s Aleppo demonstrated in front of the offices of Turkish Airlines, the National News Agency reported.
“Today’s protest is part of a peaceful movement against Turkish interests in Lebanon in order to pressure for the release of the abductees,” Sheikh Abbas Zgheib, head of the follow-up committee in charge of the abductees’ case said during Wednesday’s protest in Downtown Beirut.
He also said that the relatives will adopt escalatory measures, which include the boycott of Turkish products in Lebanon.
According to the report, the protesters blocked access to the company’s premises preventing employees from entering their offices.
In May, 11 Shiite pilgrims were abducted in Syria’s Aleppo while returning from a pilgrimage in Iran. Later in the month, a previously unknown armed group calling itself the "Syrian Revolutionaries—Aleppo Province" said that it was holding the group, while the Free Syrian Army had repeatedly denied its involvement in the abduction.
Two of the kidnapped pilgrims – Awad Ibrahim and Hussein Ali Omar – were released in past months.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said that the protesters should not undermine the efforts his ministry is exerting to secure the release of the Lebanese hostages.
He, however, added that the relatives could not be blamed for their protest “especially that seven months have passed since the abduction of their sons.”
