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05 Feb 2021
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Lokman Slim ‘may have been tortured’ before he was assassinated: Family

February 5, 2021

Prominent Lebanese activist and Hezbollah critic Lokman Slim “may have been tortured” before he was assassinated, his sister told Al Arabiya on Friday, one day after her brother was found shot dead.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“The [coroner’s report] I received says that there were six bullets in his body, and that he was bleeding, and it appears they may have tortured him before killing him,” Rasha al-Ameer said.She also described the report as “very basic,” adding that the family had requested the report in order to be allowed to move the corpse from a morgue in the Sidon public hospital to a morgue at a private hospital in Beirut, where Slim’s family lives.“We’ve requested from a pathologist [an autopsy] to get additional information on what he thinks happened, and the time of death,” his sister added.As of Friday, no one from the investigative team or authorities had contacted the family to provide more information, al-Ameer revealed to Al Arabiya.The body of 58-year-old Slim, a longtime Shia political activist and researcher, was slumped over on the passenger seat with multiple wounds from gunshots fired at close range, according to security and forensic officials.He was reported missing by his family late Wednesday night into Thursday morning after he visited a friend’s house in a village in Lebanon’s southern region, which is heavily controlled by the Iran-backed Hezbollah.Slim's family hinted on Thursday that the extremist group was behind the killing, according to the Associated Press.“He was carrying the weight of this country on his shoulder,” his sister Rasha al-Ameer told reporters at their home after the news of the killing broke. She said she has no faith in local investigations and that the family would carry out its own private forensic probe.“Up until today in the history of Lebanon, all investigations have led to a dead end,” she told reporters. His wife, Monika Borgmann, standing next to al-Ameer, called for an international probe. “This killer has to be punished,” Borgmann said.Al-Ameer hinted that Hezbollah was behind the killing, without naming the group, adding that it is known who controls the area where her brother was found dead. “Killing for them is a habit," she said. Hezbollah and its allies dominate the area in southern Lebanon.With the Associated PressRead more:Lebanese activist, Hezbollah critic Lokman Slim found shot to death in his carMurdered activist Lokman Slim was facilitating a Hezbollah defection before deathFamily of slain Lebanese activist Lokman Slim hints Hezbollah behind the killing
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Lokman Slim ‘may have been tortured’ before he was assassinated: Family

05 Feb 2021
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Merkel blasts Moscow’s expulsion of German diplomats over Navalny as ‘unjustified’

February 5, 2021

Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned Russia’s expulsion of German diplomats as a further step by Moscow away from the rule of law.Russia on Friday announced the expulsion of diplomats from Sweden, Germany, and Poland, accusing them of taking part in illegal protests last month against the jailing of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app“We consider this expulsion to be unjustified,” Merkel told reporters after a video conference on defense and security issues with French President Emmanuel Macron, adding that the two had received news of the expulsions during the meeting.Yes to sanctions, no to cutting tiesChancellor Merkel said Germany was prepared to continue sanctions on Russia, including against individuals, but said it was a “diplomatic duty” to keep open channels of communication with Europe’s giant eastern neighbor.She told a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron that Germany was, “for the time being,” sticking to its position in favor of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which is opposed by the United States and much of Europe.“In connection with the events in Russia, we have already said that we reserve the right to continue sanctions, especially against individuals. The position on Nord Stream 2 is not affected by this for the time being; this is a project on which you know the position of the federal government,” Merkel said.German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Russia’s decision to the expel diplomats is in no way justified and further damages relations to Europe,There will be a response if Russia does not reconsider this step, Maas said in a statement.“Russia’s decision to expel several EU diplomats, including an employee of the embassy in Moscow, is in no way justified and is further damaging relations with Europe,” Maas said.Read more:More EU sanctions against Russia over Navalny ‘not ruled out’: GermanyEuropean Union calls for Navalny’s immediate releaseAccused of defaming a WWII veteran, Putin critic Navalny appears in court again
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Merkel blasts Moscow’s expulsion of German diplomats over Navalny as ‘unjustified’