Live Breaking News & Updates on Click To Expand Image The Drag Artist Known As Latiza Bombe Hides On Terrace Ofa Bar After It Was Attacked Bya Group Of Conservative Christians Who Identify Quot Soldiers God

Click to expand Image The drag artist known as Latiza Bombe hides on the terrace of a bar after it was attacked by a group of conservative Christians who identify as the "Soldiers of God," in Beirut, Lebanon, August 23, 2023. 2023 Emilie Madi/Reuters Men from an anti-LGBT group attacked a bar in Lebanon where a drag event was being held on August 23, while threatening violence against LGBT people. "We stopped the show and had to hide behind the bar, lying down on the floor, breathless," one of the performers told me. "The police stood on the side, watching, as the men were beating people." The men were part of the so-called Soldiers of God group that is openly hostile toward LGBT people in Lebanon. "There were a dozen men on motorcycles who attacked us. At least two of them had guns," another performer said. A video of the attack shows the assailants shoving some of the attendees and shouting "We warned you, this is only the beginning," ....

Human Rights Watch , Agents Of The Internal Security , Internal Security Forces , Human Rights , Click To Expand Image The Drag Artist Known As Latiza Bombe Hides On Terrace Ofa Bar After It Was Attacked Bya Group Of Conservative Christians Who Identify Quot Soldiers God , Uot In Beirut , August 23 , 023 2023 Emilie Madi Reuters Men From An Anti Lgbt Group Attackeda Bar In Lebanon Wherea Drag Event Was Being Held On August 23 , Hile Threatening Violence Against Lgbt People Quot We Stopped The Show And Had To Hide Behind Bar , Ying Down On The Floor , Uot One Of The Performers Told Me Quot Police Stood On Side , S The Men Were Beating People Quot Part Of So Called Soldiers God Group That Is Openly Hostile Toward Lgbt In Lebanon There Werea Dozen On Motorcycles Who Attacked Us At Least Two Them Had Guns , Uot Another Performer Saida Video Of The Attack Shows Assailants Shoving Some Attendees And Shouting Quot We Warned You , His Is Only The Beginning , Uot And , Uot We Will Not Allow The Promotion Of Homosexuality In Land God Quot Agents Internal Security Forces Who Arrived While Attack Was Under Way Did Intervene , Ive Of The Event 39s Attendees Said Quot Police Were Watching As They Attacked Us , Ut Instead Of Stopping And Arresting Them , Hey Interrogated The Bar Owner And Attendees About Nature Of Performance , Uot One Of The Attendees Added Attack Follows Widespread Anti Lgbt Incidents In Lebanon , Ncluding Incitement To Violence Against Lgbt People By Religious Leaders , Anning Events Around Gender And Sexuality By The Government , Nd Proposed Legislation By Officials To Explicitly Criminalize Same Sex Conduct And Quot Promoting Homosexuality We Had Assess Whether It Was Safe Host The Event , Ut We Decided To Go Ahead Because Drag Isa Form Of Entertainment That Is Mainstream In Lebanon And Had Not Yet Been Targeted , Uot One Of The Event Organizers Said To Our Knowledge , Here Have Been No Arrests Made In Connection With The August 23 Attack If One Is Held Accountable ,