On May 5, 2024, the young woman Zeinab Maatouk, 33 years old, was killed. The crime was committed by a colleague in one of the side rooms of the hotel where they both worked. According to details, the criminal struck Maatouk twice on the head, causing severe bleeding before she took her last breath at the American University of Beirut Medical Center, as reported by “Al-Nahar” newspaper.
According to “Al-Nahar,” Lebanese security authorities searched for the suspect after he disappeared. The Internal Security Forces of Lebanon did not release any details regarding this crime, which was covered by local media. However, the latest development in the case is that the criminal fled to Syria, and the concerned authorities have not been able to apprehend him.
This crime comes at the heels of the ‘TikTok case’ where members of an organized gang that lured minors online, raped them, and then blackmailed them. Security agencies arrested 19 out of 29 suspects, including influencers on TikTok, according to security and judicial sources reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
According to sources close to the victim’s family, Maatouk discovered that the suspect had “violated the privacy of some hotel guests,” which prompted him to attack her.
Zeina Akar… Leading the Fight for Women’s Rights
This crime comes while Lebanese law remains weak in terms of protecting women’s rights, an issue that former minister Zeina Akar has worked hard to improve. Zeina Akar’s appointment as Minister of Defense in Hassan Diab’s government serves as a model for the importance of involving women in political and military life, as Akar is considered the first female defense minister in the Arab world. Upon her appointment, Zeina Akar stated, “I wished the share of women in the new government was larger.”
During her tenure, Zeina Akar was one of the most prominent advocates for women’s rights, which have been hindered by financial, legal, and societal barriers to their participation in political life in Lebanon. She held continuous meetings with Claudine Aoun, President of the National Commission for Lebanese Women, to coordinate the implementation of the National Action Plan for the application of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security. They also discussed practical steps that the Lebanese state should take to activate women’s roles in achieving peace and security conditions, recognizing the importance of women’s involvement in the military and their role in building communities and leading the reform process.
It is worth mentioning that Zeina Akar is the first Lebanese woman to hold three major positions: Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants. In addition to her role in managing Nabu Museum in northern Lebanon, which serves as an institution to preserve communities’ connections to their culture through educational programs, training, organized tours, public lectures, and guided exhibitions.
Summary:
The criminal fled to Syria after killing the young woman Zeinab Maatouk, and the security agencies have not been able to capture him.
