A prominent Lebanese activist and publisher, known for his public criticism of the militant group Hezbollah, was found dead in his car on Thursday morning, according to the Associated Press.
Lokman Slim, 58, was a Shiite activist and political researcher. After being reported missing for hours on Wednesday night, Slim’s body was found in the passenger seat of his vehicle with several long-range gunshot wounds, the AP reported.
News of his assassination has raised concerns that political tension in Lebanon could reach a wave of new assassinations.
“He was carrying the weight of this country on his shoulder,” Slim’s sister Rasha al-Ameer told the AP. “To date in Lebanon’s history, all investigations have stalled,” she said.
Slim’s wife, Monika Borgmann, has called for an international investigation into her husband’s death, according to the wire service. “This killer must be punished,” Borgmann said.
Al-Ameer accused Hezbollah of murder, despite the fact that the group publicly condemned him and called for an investigation.
A few days before he was attacked, Slim convicted Hezbollah supporters of threatening him at home and accusing him of treason.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blink
Antony Blinken Overnight Defense: New Extended START for Five Years Austin orders “stop” to fight extremism Group recommends delaying Afghanistan’s withdrawal from Biden US “disappointed” by UN court ruling on Iran case: State Department Study group recommends delaying Afghanistan’s withdrawal from Biden MORE denounced the killing, saying it was “cowardly and unacceptable to resort to violence, threats and intimidation as a means of undermining the rule of law or suppressing freedom of expression and civic activism,” according to the AP.
He also urged Lebanese officials to move quickly to bring the killers to justice, the AP reported.