It is a very sad anniversary for Lebanon on Friday August 4: three years ago, on August 4, 2020, in the port of Beirut, one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history killed 220 people and caused 6,500 injured. Three years later, hopes of one day finding the truth about this tragedy and bringing those responsible to justice are dim, as political pressures have impeded the course of justice.
The explosion was caused by a fire in a warehouse where tons of ammonium nitrate were stored carelessly, despite repeated warnings to officials.
The collective of victims’ families, which has been fighting tirelessly for three years to demand justice, called on the Lebanese to come dressed in black to participate in a demonstration in the afternoon, which must go to the port. “It is a day of mourning and protest against the Lebanese state which politicizes our cause and interferes in the process of justice,” Rima Zahed, who lost his brother Amine, told AFP. port employee.
“Three years after the explosion, justice is obstructed and the truth is hidden… None of the wanted people are in prison anymore,” she added. The Lebanese authorities refused an international investigation, demanded by the families of the victims, and are accused of having hindered the local investigation, in a country in full economic collapse and where political divisions affect the judicial system.
” We are tired. We have been unable to do anything to hold these criminals to account,” adds Rima Zahed.
A first judge in charge of the investigation in 2020 had to throw in the towel, after indicting former Prime Minister Hassan Diab and three former ministers. His successor, Tarek Bitar, in turn attacked politicians, but parliament refused to waive the immunity of indicted deputies, the interior ministry opposed the questioning of senior officers and security forces refused to execute arrest warrants.
He was forced to suspend his investigation for 13 months, due to dozens of lawsuits against him from politicians and intense pressure. Last January, he returned to work to everyone’s surprise. He was then prosecuted for insubordination by the public prosecutor after indicting several high-ranking personalities, a first in the history of Lebanon. The prosecutor also ordered the release of the 17 people detained without trial since the gigantic explosion.
In two and a half years, Judge Bitar was able to work for about six months, during which he was subjected to intense pressure which caused an unprecedented crisis within the judicial system. But even if he has not set foot in the courthouse for months, his investigation “is continuing”, assured AFP a legal expert who requested anonymity for security reasons.
This expert who is following the investigation affirmed that Judge Bitar was determined to continue his work until his indictment was handed down, stressing that he had made a promise to the families of the victims.
“We are confident that we will get to the truth, because the truth does not die until it is claimed,” says Rima Zahed. On Thursday, 300 NGOs, including Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International (AI), as well as families of victims renewed their call for the formation of an international commission of inquiry. “International action is needed to break the culture of impunity in Lebanon,” said Ramzi Kaiss of HRW.
“Authorities have used every means at their disposal to shamelessly undermine and obstruct the national investigation in order to evade accountability,” said Aya Majzoub, AI’s deputy regional director.
