2015–2016 Lebanese protests
2015 Lebanese protests also known as the 'You Stink Protests' or the 'You Stink Movement' (Arabic: مظاهرات طلعت ريحتكم ) were a series of protests in response to the government's failure to find solutions to a waste crisis caused by the closure of the Beirut and Mount Lebanon region waste dump in Naameh (south of Beirut) in July 2015. The closure led the region's waste company Sukleen to suspend collection causing piles of rubbish to fill the streets. A series of small but increasing protests, led by grassroots organization "You Stink!," were held throughout the summer, culminating in large protests in August. These attracted thousands of demonstrators but also saw scuffles with police.
| 2015–2016 Lebanese protests | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Martyr Square 29 August 2015 | |||
| Date | 21 July 2015 – 2016 | ||
| Location | |||
| Caused by | Garbage problem Sectarianism Corruption Unemployment Political dysfunction Power cuts Water shortages | ||
| Goals | Solve garbage crisis Proportional Electoral Law Elect a new parliament Overthrow the government Investigation into actions of police brutality | ||
| Methods | Demonstrations Sit-ins Self-immolation | ||
| Status | Ended | ||
| Parties | |||
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| Lead figures | |||
Tammam Salam | |||
| Number | |||
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| Casualties and losses | |||
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The protest were categorized by comical slogans and imaginative chants which mostly linked political figures to the crisis. However, protesters were reported shouting a number of chants made popular during the Arab Spring uprisings across the region, including "Ash-shab yurid isqat an-nizam" (meaning "The people want to topple the regime").
The protests spawned the political campaign Beirut Madinati.