Beirut Pride cancelled after organiser detained by police

Beirut police detained Hardi Damien, the organiser of Beirut Pride, for twelve hours on Tuesday, releasing him on the condition that he cancel all pride events. Beirut Pride became the first pride event to take place in the Arab world last year. The focus of this year’s event was families with LGBT+ parents or children.

“Beirut Pride launched its initiative to keep families together to accommodate parents and children. We celebrated the evening at the opening of Beirut Pride, which attracted a huge number of attendees,” Damien said.

Several events were held before the shutdown, including a dance show, a forum about trans rights, and the launch of a Corporate Pledge.

Damien said he wasn’t treated badly during his detainment, and that he had been arrested because the police had received false information about the Pride.

“I cannot confirm this about all the detainees who have bruises and signs that they said were hit marks,’ he said.

“We gave police a briefing about Beirut Pride, its meaning and initiatives, and to correct the misinformation and address the important details.”

Police forced him to sign a document saying he would shut down the event or be charged with “encouraging debauchery and offending public decency” – a charge that carries a jail sentence of two years.

“This was a warning…and the (police’s) aim was to stop the events,” Damien’s lawyer, Layal Saqr, said. “I advised him to sign. We want him outside not behind bars.”

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