Abdul Razzaq Haddad: Let This Be the Last

Two weeks ago, one of Tripoli's most famous sweet vendors, Abdul Razzaq Haddad, was injured when a small bomb was thrown at his food cart. Today, he succumbed to those wounds. Dozens of commentators poured onto social media expressing their sadness and frustrations with the continuing security deterioration in the streets of Tripoli. For many Tripolitans, Haddad is a symbol of the Lebanese man trying to earn an honest income amidst widespread corruption yet even with Haddad's record, he was not spared from the lawlessness spreading in Tripoli's streets. The Haddad family is known for their shmaysseh sweets and for providing these sweets at an affordable price. Mr. Haddad had spread joy to so many Tripolitans yet its streets had not reciprocated the same. The question that needs to be asked is, where is the police force? Why is the police force that is primarily made up of Tripolitan natives not taking a more active role in patrolling the streets and establishing some semblance of law and order? How is it that Tripoli's streets turned to being one of the safest to one where a crime can occur and the perpetrators go unpunished? May Allah (swt) bless the soul of Abdul Razzaq Haddad.

Leave your thoughts and comments about ways to tackle the growing security lapse in the city.

About the Author:

R. Mahmoud Yamak is a petroleum engineer currently residing in Dallas, TX. He is a commentator on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs who has previously written for the Daily Sabah, The New Arab, Muftah Magazine, among others. He is the founder of The Tripolitan Podcast and co-founder of Tripolicy.