Young men raided the Beirut Horsh and the municipality rewards them

In April 2024, a group of young men from Tariq Al-Jadida raided Horsh Beirut to apprehend youths accused of drug use and trafficking by entering the Horsh through gaps in its fence, following the state authorities’ unresponsiveness. This move coincides with the racist and inflammatory rhetoric towards Syrians, and sets a dangerous precedent, as it claims that control over public spaces is necessary under the pretext of maintaining safety and security. The state responded after this incident through the governor of the capital and the head of its municipal council, Marwan Abboud, by forming a reporting “group” to receive allegations and problems from these young men, and the relevant security services are then tasked with taking immediate action. This is nothing but a confirmation of the extent of the state’s systematic and permanent failure to open, manage, and guard public spaces, and to enhance their role as public spaces open to all residents of the city. It is not the gaps in the fence that led to the violation of the sanctity of the Horsh, but rather it is the State’s loopholes that restrict activities in public spaces and spark conflict over them, also it is the existence of the fence itself, acting as physical and symbolic barrier that separates the Beirut Horsh from its natural and social surroundings and symbolizes the policies that impose isolation and restriction on public spaces, which contradicts the principles of freedom and openness that such places should have.