Two religious ceremonies are held, one by the Greek Orthodox metropolitan at Geitaoui hospital, and the other by the Maronite patriarch at St George’s cathedral. Thousands of Lebanese marched towards the site of the disaster. Card al-Rahi decries attempts to hold back the investigations, and does not rule out calling again for international inquiry.
In mid-July, Jewish graves were destroyed in Haskoy, an Istanbul suburb. Previously, Christian burial sites in Mardin and Van were targeted. Dead Yazidi have been dug up, their bodies repositioned in accordance with Islamic practice. Teens aged 11 and 13 have been involved. An Armenian member of Turkey’s parliament bemoans the mindset that “filled those children with hatred”.
Iranian authorities arrested many Bahá'ís over the weekend alleging ties with a centre in Israel and for proselytising in schools and kindergartens. Some 52 homes and businesses were raided. Advocacy groups abroad speak out against a campaign of hatred fuelled by the pro-regime media. A report by a US-based NGO says the regime is using a “misinformation campaign" to justify repression.
Fr Abboud talks about a country and a people who feel "lost and astray”. Too much secrecy surrounds the investigation into the disaster, which is still far from the truth. Even among the victims’ families, rifts have emerged, largely fuelled by politics. The state of the healthcare and educational systems is worrying. AsiaNews renews its campaign in support of Catholic schools.
Ukraine and Syria will be the main points of discussion. The Turkey-mediated grain deal between Ukraine and Russia still reverberates. Turkey’s “sultan” defends Russia’s “tsar” from Western criticism. Both want to keep their hold on power.
The incident took place yesterday shortly after noon, reviving memory of the tragedy of 4 August 2020, an unprecedented disaster in the history of the country. Cracks have appeared in what is left of the structure, with more collapses expected. The dust cloud caused by the collapse was effectively contained, lingering for a few minutes.
