When the horrendous Lebanese government decided to hike up all our taxes before they eventually slightly raised a part of Lebanese people’s salaries, many upstanding citizens went down to protest. They were protesting the proposed 5000LBP increase on fuel to pay to export our unsorted garbage, in one of the saddest chapters in the humiliating, still ongoing trash crisis.

That was in 2016, if you can believe it. A brave group of activists spray painted those cement blocks they put in Beirut to force us to pay for valets and expensive parking, with phrases like the ones below:

They were arrested for doing that, and it’s been in the courts since then.

Those indicted were two lawyers: Marwan Maalouf and Fouad Debes, two activists: Mathieu Torbey and Cynthia Sleimam, and journalist Mary Jose Azzi.

This week, Judge Abir Safa proved once again that judges are often our only salvation in Lebanon, especially in the face of such a ruling political class that is against any meaningful legislative reform unless it makes them get richer off our backs.

The judge exonerated all those indicted on all three counts they were charged with.

The first were 3 articles of slander and libel. The judge decided that it didn’t constitute slander and libel, given no one specific was mentioned or defamed, but instead the general performance and policies of Lebanon’s government. Activists 1, corrupt government 0.

The second charge against the activists was vandalism and destruction of public property. The judge saw the stencils being sprayed as a form of peaceful expression and did not see intent to vandalize or destroy in this legal form of speech.

The most absurd charge was “placing ads on historical monuments”. Now, I don’t know who exactly chose that charge, but if Solidere cement blocks designed to make you pay Valets is a historical monument, then I’m a bikini super model. Luckily, the judge disagreed with this charge, and did not see this form of peaceful protest as an “advertisement”.

Judges Can Make or Break Lebanon

Just as we got wind of this beautiful decision, a day later, another judge set free a wife beater and murderer, in a blow to women’s rights and the country’s fight against wide-spread and unchecked domestic violence.

This is why judges like Joyce Akiki, and the judge in this case, Judge Abir Safa, are progressive examples who embody the ideals that make Lebanon special: freedom, tolerance and the respect of free speech and the press. It’s why we need to celebrate these judges and support their decisions in the face of our corrupt politial establishment. It’s also why we need to condemn judges who bring Lebanon down, and let the killers of Lebanese women off the hook because of pressure from bad people in high positions.