The Minister of Culture, Judge Muhammad Wissam Al-Murtada, issued the following statement: “While the enemy continues to kill the Lebanese and destroy their cities and villages, targeting, as yesterday, their heritage in Nabatieh and Bara’shit and before that in Tibnin, some young souls inside took advantage of the prevailing conditions in Baalbek, so they came under the cover of darkness and bombing.” “For the demolition of a heritage building, we had previously issued a decision preventing its demolition.” He added: “And to these people I say: You will be held to account with difficulty, and you will go to prison, and you will be sentenced to compensation in kind (i.e., reconstruction) and in lieu (i.e., compensation). As for your land, forget it, as from today it has become an endowment that cannot be bought or sold, and the heritage house that you demolished, you will rebuild against your will and with its stones.” “The original state is as it was before it was touched by your dirty, sinful hands that know nothing but demolition and destruction.” Al-Murtada sent letters to the Cassation Public Prosecution and to the Governor of Bekaa through the Minister of the Interior and to the real estate departments through the Ministry of Finance to prosecute the perpetrators, initiate lawsuits against them, prevent any work on the property or dispose of it, and place the necessary signs on the real estate document and to seize and preserve the stones.
