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6
WINTER
2010
Never did Zeina Kassem imagine that
one day she would be leading a campaign.
Never did she imagine that she would be
at the forefront of a battle. And never ever
did she imagine that this campaign and
battle was in honor and memory of her
own beloved child.
Talal, 17, was on his way to school on Oc-
tober 19th when a speeding car hit him
killing him instantly. Since that fateful
day, the Kassem family has been lobby-
ing the government to enforce laws that
would protect pedestrians.
Talal’s death sent shocks of waves
throughout the school and community.
The shock of his futile death gave way to
anger. IF the car was not speeding, Talal
would be in class today. IF radars were
installed, Talal would be in class today. IF
speeding laws are enforced in Lebanon,
Talal would be in class today.
Clad in black, a thin wisp of her former self,
Zeina Kassem struggles to keep the tears at
bay. The pain is overwhelming. “Yes,” she
said. “Talal would be with us today.”
The distraught parents looked for
answers.They found none. Instead, they
found dozens of confused young faces,
all of Talal’s friends, looking at them for
guidance. It was then that Kassem knew
that she had a new role to play. Talal’s
death will not be in vain.
“I saw Talal in all of them,” she said. “And
I felt – I feel – this need to protect them.”
On October 24, just five days after his
death, hundreds of people, wearing white
and holding banners gathered near the
Kassem residence in Ramlet al Baida.
They traced Talal’s last footsteps to the
Movenpick area where the boy was run
down. Hundreds of white balloons were
released at the site.
The battle for road safety had begun. Cur-
rent traffic laws in Lebanon are outdated
and lag behind other countries. Ironically,
the Ministry of Interior, Ziad Baroud, had
already completely revamped the law and
presented it in parliament.The law was
not deemed a priority and until this day
remains on the ‘to do’ list.
And yet, unofficial statistics by YASA
(Youth Association for Social Awareness),
state that at least 700 people have died
as a result of traffic accidents, and around
10,000 have been injured, since the start
of 2009 alone.
Outraged IC students gathered at the
Serail at Parliament Square on November
25th to urge Speaker Nabih Berri to pass
the new traffic law. A petition signed by
hundreds was handed in.
For a short time after Talal’s death, police
could be seen in many corners stopping
traffic violators. Radars – that were col-
lecting dust in storage - were pulled out
and installed in certain areas. Seatbelts
were placed. Red lights were respected.
But it was short lived. Policemen eventu-
ally disappeared. Radars went unattended.
Tickets were rarely issued. Traffic went
back to its chaotic norm.
Still, Kassem perseveres. “If I can get
parliament to pass this law,” she said. “It’s
like I did something for Talal. I think this
is what Talal wants. To keep his friends
safe. I think of it as TALAL’ s law.”
Talal’s killer remains in prison. He’s been
sentenced to nine months. “And yet,” adds
Kassem. “A common thief gets anywhere
between seven to 12 years of hard labor.”
On January 14, disaster struck again.
Mohamed Dimashkieh, 22, - a friend of
the Kassem family - was parked at the
curb and was getting out of his car when
a speeding car ran him over.
“We have to put a stop somewhere,” said
Kassem. “This has to stop. You just can’t
kill people and get away with it. Talal was
going to school.That was it. He was just
going to school and he was killed.This
could happen to anyone.”
Talal’s Law