BEIRUT: Baabda MP Alain Aoun submitted a draft proposal Friday to make Sept. 1 a public holiday to commemorate all assassinated political leaders in the country.

“Sept. 1 of every year should be considered an official public holiday in honor of all the martyrs,” Aoun said. “I suggest the public holiday be on Sep.1, the day Greater Lebanon was [created] on Sept. 1, 1920,” he said.

Aoun’s proposal came a week after Prime Minister Najib Mikati declared Feb. 14, the anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a public holiday.

“Regardless if we support him or not, he [Hariri] dedicated his life for Lebanon and everyone should respect his martyrdom,” Aoun said.

“Making Feb. 14 a public holiday would provoke many Lebanese to feel discriminated against since the days that other leaders like Bashir Gemayel, Rene Moawad, Riad Solh and Rashid Karami who were assassinated have not been designated as public holidays.”