Four mates were just hanging around one afternoon, when one of them took a “selfie”.  That photo and the tragedy that followed would give birth to a massive online movement of Lebanese people expressing their heartbreak and frustration with the deadly violence growing in the Middle East.  Warning, this story contains a graphic image that may be disturbing to some.

It’s two days after Christmas in Beirut, Lebanon.  16-year old Mohammed Chaar, in his red hoodie and wearing glasses looks right into the camera.  Over his shoulder, a gold Honda SUV parked across the street.  Unbeknownst to the teens, that vehicle was packed with explosive.  Within seconds, it exploded.  Three of the lads survived, but Mohammed didn’t make it.

The target of blast was some politician, Mohammed and his friends just happened to be there.  But another politician referred to Mohammed as a “martyr”.

That brought a backlash.  Blogger Dyala Badran was among the first to start tweeting about the attack using the hashtag #notamartyr.  Dyala said politicians use the word “martyr” as a way of politicizing violence, dehumanizing those who are killed, and side-stepping the need for investigation, say those behind the protest.

It grew from there, involving not just Twitter but Facebook as well.  Thousands of Lebanese have used the #notamartyr hashtag to air their frustration not only with the violence and the selfishness of the factions who won’t stop endless fighting, but also with corruption and official ineptitude and apathy that prevents an end to violence, and intolerance that prevents people from loving each other.  Some expats want to go back home to Lebanon but are afraid.