On Tuesday, police use lethal metal pellets to disperse off protests in Lebanon resulting in the injury of two protesters. This incident adds to the rising evidence of security forces previously using uncommon weapons that cause serious and potentially deadly injuries.
A French photographer, Floroient Zwein and an unidentified man sustained the metal pellet injuries in these protests.
Richard Weir, a Beirut-based crisis and conflict researcher with Human Rights Watch, said pellets are most likely fired from shotguns, but could also be released from small explosive devices similar to a grenade.
Weir said that it’s unacceptable to use metal pellet guns in situations like these and it shows the inherent indiscriminate force used and the decision by security forces to use these pellets repeatedly since August 8 is “clearly an inappropriate escalation in the use of force and is unlawful”.
“While security forces may be meeting additional violence from some protesters, the response can’t be unlawful and indiscriminate. It’s simply unacceptable,” said Weir.
According to doctors, pellets have caused severe injuries to people’s eyes, face, and bodies. Moreover, doctors have reported pallets injuring the heart and lungs of at least two patients who narrowly escaped death.
Lawyer, Diala Chahade called on the public prosecutor for an open investigation for protesters who got injured in protests and filed a complaint.
Internal Security Forces (ISF) denied using munitions at protests and said they only fired tear gas.