On Friday, Lebanon marks the third anniversary of the deadly explosion in the port of Beirut, with little hope of ever learning the truth about this tragedy and bringing those responsible to justice, as political pressure has obstructed the course of the justice.
On August 4, 2020, at 6:07 p.m., one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history devastated entire districts of the capital, causing more than 220 deaths and more than 6,500 injuries.
The explosion was caused by the burning of a warehouse where tons of ammonium nitrate were stored without precaution, despite repeated warnings to those responsible.
The group of relatives of the victims, who have 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 is scheduled to head towards the port.
“It is a day of mourning and protest against the Lebanese state, which politicizes our cause and interferes in the judicial process,” Rima Zahed, who lost her brother Amine, a port employee, told AFP.
“Three years after the explosion, justice is obstructed and the truth is hidden (…) None of the people investigated is in jail,” he added.
Lebanese authorities have rejected an international investigation, demanded by the families of the victims, and are accused of obstructing the local investigation in a country mired in economic collapse, where political divisions reverberate through the judicial system.
“We are tired. We have not been able to do anything to hold these criminals accountable,” adds Rima Zahed.
The first judge in charge of the investigation in 2020 had to throw in the towel after indicting the former prime minister, Hassan Diab, and three former ministers.
His successor, Tarek Bitar, has now turned his attention to politicians, but Parliament has refused to lift the immunity of accused MPs, the Interior Ministry has opposed questioning of senior officials and security forces have refused. to execute the arrest warrants.
He was forced to suspend his investigation for 13 months, due to dozens of lawsuits filed against him by politicians and intense pressure.
Last January, to everyone’s surprise, he reopened the case. He then was prosecuted for insubordination by the prosecutor, after accusing several high-ranking personalities, something unprecedented in the history of Lebanon.
The prosecutor also ordered the release of the 17 people detained without trial since the huge explosion.
In two and a half years, Judge Bitar will have been able to work for about six months, during which he was under intense pressure that led to an unprecedented crisis in the judicial system.
But although he has not been in the courthouse for months, his investigation “continues,” a legal expert told AFP who requested anonymity for security reasons.
The expert, who is following the investigation, affirmed that Judge Bitar is determined to continue his work until he issues his indictment, stressing that he has made a promise to the families of the victims.
“We are convinced that we will arrive at the truth, because the truth does not die while it continues to be demanded,” said Rima Zahed.
On Thursday, 300 NGOs, including Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International, as well as relatives of the victims, renewed their request for an international commission of inquiry.
“International action is needed to end the culture of impunity in Lebanon,” said Ramzi Kaiss of HRW.
“The authorities have used all means at their disposal to blatantly undermine and obstruct the national investigation in order to evade accountability,” said Aya Majzoub, Amnesty’s deputy regional director.
On Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron assured “the Lebanese and Lebanese” of their support: “You can count on France, our solidarity, our friendship,” he wrote on Twitter, renamed X.
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
