Crime, not politics behind tensions between Lebanese Armenians, Kurds

PanARMENIAN.Net - Tensions between many Lebanese Armenians and Kurdish laborers in Burj Hammoud are the result of recent crime on the streets of the Beirut district, rather than developments in Syria, political and security sources said.

The Tashnag Party, which enjoys support in some of Burj Hammoud’s Armenian community, urged apartment owners last week to rent only to families, a move that would make it difficult for single workers to live in the area.

Akkar MP Khaled Daher, a member of the Future Movement, told Mustaqbal newspaper over the weekend that the party’s decision is aimed at stopping anti-Syrian regime protests.

Members of the Kurdish community have participated in both anti- and pro-Syria demonstrations.

But according to security sources, the party’s move came after a security incident in Burj Hammoud last week when a Lebanese Armenian man nearly died after being stabbed by a Kurdish man over a parking dispute.

“All kinds of immoral acts are taking place in the town and there are many [people] carrying knives on the streets,” the source added.

Tashnag Metn MP Hagop Pakradounian echoed the source, saying that issue is not politics but social and security matters, adding that the party is confronting these issues after receiving complaints from residents, Lebanon-based Daily Star reported.