In couple of weeks, on February 4, four years would have passed since the brutal assassination of Lokman Slim, yet his voice resonates louder than ever in the silence he left behind. Lokman was a fearless advocate for truth and accountability in a region where such values often come at the highest cost. His assassination was not merely the loss of a singular voice but a chilling reminder of the dangerous waters navigated by those who dare to challenge entrenched power structures.
As we reflect on his legacy today, it is impossible to ignore the broader geopolitical landscape that continues to evolve with alarming intensity. The region has witnessed a series of seismic shifts—Lebanon’s ongoing economic freefall, the aftermath of the Syrian crisis, and the persistent struggle of civil society to carve out space for meaningful engagement.
The shift in Syria has also brought new challenges and opportunities to the forefront. The importance of addressing political violence cannot be overstated, as the scars of conflict continue to shape the region’s trajectory. Lokman understood the urgency of documenting and collecting the oral history of both victims and perpetrators, believing that understanding what happened is crucial to ensuring that such atrocities do not happen again. His work in memory preservation and truth-seeking efforts remains an essential but unfinished mission in the face of widespread impunity.
As Mahmoud Darwish once wrote, “If the olive trees knew the hands that planted them, their oil would become tears.” Lokman, too, knew the sorrow of his community and those that suffer, but he believed in the healing power of truth, the light that words could cast upon the darkest corners of history. Lokman’s work was a bridge—one of understanding, reconciliation, and unwavering resistance against the forces of silence.
The assassination of Lokman Slim was meant to silence a voice that challenged the status quo, but instead, it ignited a collective determination to uphold his legacy. His relentless pursuit of accountability and his belief in the power of truth continue to inspire those who refuse to succumb to fear and intimidation. Today, as Lebanon stands at yet another crossroads, his vision of a just and sovereign nation remains a beacon for those who dare to hope.
Why is Lokman missed now? Because his voice was one of courage and clarity in a time of confusion and fear. His absence leaves a void in efforts to hold power to account and document the truth. His unwavering commitment to justice, free expression, and the dignity of victims is needed now more than ever.
On a personal level, his loss has been a struggle I have not yet been able to fully address. For years, I have wrestled with understanding why this assassination happened and what it meant for those of us left behind. It has been a challenge to step into the spaces he so greatly influenced, spaces where his presence once commanded both respect and inspiration. I still find it difficult to speak about his death and its impact, even with my own family. Though I might not have been the closest to him, I must be honest—I lost a great friend, and the void he left remains profound and unsettling.
In the end, the greatest tribute we can offer Lokman is to carry forward his mission—to question, to resist, and to envision a Lebanon where truth is not a casualty of political expediency. His absence is deeply felt, not just by those who knew him personally, but by an entire portion of Lebanese, victims and activists that spent their day to day trying to unpack the sorrows of the past and still grappling with the shadows of impunity and the yearning for justice.
Lokman Slim’s work was deeply rooted in the principles of transitional justice—truth, accountability, and reparations. His relentless pursuit of justice sought to dismantle the entrenched culture of impunity that has long plagued Lebanon. The documentation of human rights abuses and the preservation of collective memory were central to his mission, serving as a foundation for reconciliation and a just future.
Transitional justice in Lebanon remains a pressing necessity, with unresolved cases of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and systemic corruption. While we might be witnessing the dawn of a new government, accompanied by a lengthy list of reforms and aspirations, adopting a human rights-based approach to resolve Lebanon’s multi-layered crisis is imperative. All proposed reforms should integrate a transitional justice framework, placing victims and the most vulnerable at the center of efforts to shape the country’s future. Most importantly, any reform strategy must guarantee the non-repetition of past crimes (all crimes!).
The broader struggle for human rights in Lebanon encompasses the fight against violence, the safeguarding of civil liberties, and the promotion of free expression. Lokman’s advocacy emphasized the intersectionality of human rights, recognizing that justice cannot be achieved in isolation but through a collective, cross-sectoral effort that includes everyone.
Carrying forward Lokman’s legacy means recommitting to the fight for justice and ensuring that his work continues to inspire new generations of activists, scholars, and policymakers who refuse to accept impunity as the status quo.
Lokman, you are missed. Now more than ever.
Georges Ghali