The Beiteddine Art Festival’s president Noura Jumblatt issued a statement today and announced the suspension of all activities scheduled for this year. The reason for that is the situation in South Lebanon and the “ongoing state of genocide in front of the world and its silence” as mentioned by Jumblatt.

This is definitely a setback as this festival is one of the most prestigious annual music festivals in the Middle East and has been attracting thousands every summer. Nevertheless, it’s a wise call given the instability in the country and the looming war in the South.