November 3, 2026
The security tension that witnessed the vicinity of Saraya Al-Minya, on Monday evening, brought back the spotlight on the issue of motorcycles in Lebanon, following popular protests that erupted following the arrest of a father and his children due to a dispute at a security checkpoint designated for controlling traffic violations.
In this context, the head of the General Federation of Lebanese Trade Unions, Maroun Al-Khouli, issued a statement in which he renewed his demand that the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities stop the campaign to confiscate motorcycles, and reconsider the security measures adopted to deal with this file.
Al-Khouli considered that what happened in Minya reflects the extent of social tension resulting from the lack of harmony between security approaches and the difficult economic and living conditions of citizens. At the same time, he stressed the need for everyone to adhere to the laws, and to investigate the circumstances of any transgression objectively, away from generalizations and prejudices.
Al-Khouli pointed out that treating motorcycle owners as outlaws is unfair. Because it has become an essential means of securing a living and reaching work places, in light of the absence of a public transportation network and the high cost of fuel, cars, and taxes. He stressed that what is required is not to be lenient with violations or abandon public safety standards, but rather to facilitate compliance with the law through realistic procedures, pointing out that the registration fees for some bicycles exceed the financial capacity of their owners.
These developments renew the public debate on ways to reconcile the enforcement of security and the rule of law on the one hand, and taking into account the social and economic reality of groups that depend entirely on motorcycles for their daily transportation on the other hand.
