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The National
a day ago
- Politics
- The National
Lebanon cannot call itself a state without answers to Beirut port explosion, says Justice Minister
Lebanon 'cannot pretend' to be a state if answers are not found to questions about the deadly Beirut port explosion in 2020, the country's Justice Minister has said. No one has been held accountable for one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history, which killed more than 220 people, injured thousands and flattened large parts of the Lebanese capital. Nearly 3,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been improperly stored at the port for years exploded on August 4 that year despite repeated warnings to the authorities. Physical wounds are visible across Beirut, while the mental and emotional scars linger for its people every day, but justice appears elusive. The tragedy exposed the deep-rooted corruption and negligence at the heart of Lebanon 's dysfunctional political and judicial systems. Efforts to investigate the explosion have been repeatedly frustrated by political interference, legal challenges and the removal of lead investigators, leaving victims' families still searching for answers five years later. Tarek Bitar, the current investigative judge, has been threatened and faced challenges in summoning the senior figures he has fought to interrogate. He is finally making some progress after years of constant impediments – although a long road ahead remains. 'When you have a blast of the dramatic impact of the port blast, a state that is not able to give answers and ensure accountability to its citizens is a state not fulfilling its role,' said Justice Minister Adel Nassar. 'I understand the families, all the victims, that they want a decision as soon as possible. But I think they understand that the main criteria is to ensure he [Mr Bitar] completed his work and he got sufficient evidence supporting his findings,' Mr Nassar told The National in an interview at his office in Beirut, days before the fifth anniversary of the explosion. Mr Nassar assumed the role earlier this year in the government of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, himself a former judge and former chief of the International Court of Justice. Mr Salam's team has sought to bring about reform in a country long plagued by institutional malaise, and the Prime Minister has repeatedly said that accountability over the blast is one his key objectives. 'It's one of the priorities and nobody will accept that this major dramatic event remains without answers, without a trial, without a proper judicial system acting in this respect,' said Mr Nassar. Justice delayed Mr Bitar's investigation has been fraught with challenges from the start. He was not the original lead judge in the immediate aftermath of the explosion and, at one point, was stripped of his authority by Lebanon's then leading prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat – who himself had been charged in connection with the case. Mr Bitar also faced a barrage of lawsuits filed by senior officials seeking to avoid interrogation. But, in January, he reopened the case again. Shortly after, his powers were reinstalled by Lebanon's new lead prosecutor and some – although not all – high officials who resisted interrogation for months, if not years, eventually appeared for questioning. Mr Oueidat, however, refused on Thursday to be notified of a hearing scheduled by Mr Bitar for questioning on Monday as a suspect in the case. The investigation's reactivation has coincided with the arrival of a new president and a reform-minded government, raising cautious hopes for a shift in approach. 'Maybe there is a coincidence between my arrival to the ministry and the fact that he [Mr Bitar] is being able to conduct his work without obstacles,' said Mr Nassar. 'A coincidence?' The National asked. 'Why not?' the Minister responded, with a smile and shrug of his shoulders. Mr Nassar said he has no formal role in the investigation, and that no good justice minister should have one in this case or any other. 'It's clear that the Ministry is not in charge of the investigation and is not supposed to interfere in the investigation. And I'm clearly not interfering,' Mr Nassar said. 'My role is to ensure that the investigative judge will have all the tools he may require to continue his work and to prevent any political interference in his work.' He added: 'I tried to support any requirements or demand he brought, I'm very happy that French investigative judges came to Lebanon to share information with him,' referring to a French delegation that was on the ground two weeks after the blast and was allowed to share its findings with Mr Bitar once the investigation resumed. The contents of the French findings are not known to Mr Nassar, but it is hoped the exchange of information between judicial officials will support the case. 'I made the contacts to ensure that they could come and share information. But I didn't even meet them, it's not my role to meet them. 'We really have to respect the separation of powers in Lebanon. In a democracy, you have a proper separation. I am a minister, I am not supposed to ask questions regarding the merit of a judge's work.' Mr Nassar said he has ensured there is proper co-operation between Mr Bitar and Lebanon's lead prosecutor. He also reiterated his solidarity with families of the victims. 'It is one of the most terrible crimes that occurred. It is the duty of the state to give this file a full effort, because we cannot pretend we have a state, and at the same time, not be able to address this terrible blast,' he said.
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Lebanon cannot call itself a state without answers to Beirut blast, says Justice Minister
Lebanon 'cannot pretend' to be a state if answers are not found over the deadly 2020 Beirut port blast, the country's Justice Minister has said. No one has been held accountable for one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history, which killed more than 220 people, injured thousands and devastated large parts of the Lebanese capital. The explosion was caused by the detonation of nearly 3,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been improperly stored at the port for years, despite repeated warnings to Lebanese authorities. The physical wounds are still present throughout Beirut, while the mental and emotional scars linger for its people every day, with justice still out of reach. The tragedy exposed the deep-rooted corruption, negligence and dysfunction at the heart of Lebanon 's political and judicial systems. Efforts to investigate the blast have been repeatedly obstructed by political interference, legal challenges and the removal of lead investigators, leaving victims' families still searching for answers five years later. The current investigative judge Tarek Bitar has previously been threatened and faced challenges summoning senior figures he has fought to interrogate. He is finally making some progress after years of constant impediments - although a long road ahead remains. 'When you have a blast of the dramatic impact of the port blast, a state that is not able to give answers and ensure accountability to its citizens is a state not fulfilling its role,' said Justice Minister Adel Nassar. 'I understand the families, all the victims, that they want a decision as soon as possible. But I think they understand that the main criteria is to ensure he [Mr Bitar] completed his work and he got sufficient evidence supporting his findings,' Mr Nassar told The National in an interview at his office in Beirut, days before the fifth anniversary of the explosion. Mr Nassar assumed the role earlier this year in the government of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, himself a former judge and former chief of the International Court of Justice. Mr Salam's team has sought to bring about reform in a country long plagued by institutional malaise, and the Premier has repeatedly said that accountability over the blast is one his key objectives. 'It's one of the priorities and nobody will accept that this major dramatic event remains without answers, without a trial, without a proper judicial system acting in this respect,' said Mr Nassar. Justice delayed Judge Bitar's investigation has been fraught with challenges from the start. He was not the original lead judge in the immediate aftermath of the explosion and, at one point, was stripped of his authority by Lebanon's then-top prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat — who himself had been charged in connection with the case. Mr Bitar also faced a barrage of lawsuits filed by senior officials seeking to avoid interrogation. But in January he reopened the case again. Shortly after, his powers were reinstalled by Lebanon's new top prosecutor and some – although not all – top officials who resisted interrogation for months, if not years, eventually appeared for questioning. Mr Oueidat, however, refused on Thursday to be notified of a hearing scheduled by Mr Bitar for questioning on Monday as a suspect in the case. The investigation's reactivation has coincided with the arrival of a new president and a reform-minded government, raising cautious hopes for a shift in approach. 'Maybe there is a coincidence between my arrival to the ministry and the fact that he [Mr Bitar] is being able to conduct his work without obstacles,' said Mr Nassar. "A coincidence?" The National asked. 'Why not?' the Minister responded, with a smile and shrug of his shoulders. Mr Nassar said he has no formal role in the investigation, and that no good justice minister should have one in this case or any other. 'It's clear that the Ministry is not in charge of the investigation and is not supposed to interfere in the investigation. And I'm clearly not interfering," Mr Nassar said. 'My role is to ensure that the investigative judge will have all the tools he may require to continue his work and to prevent any political interference in his work." He added: "I tried to support any requirements or demand he brought, I'm very happy that French investigative judges came to Lebanon to share information with him,' referring to a French judicial delegation that was on the ground two weeks after the blast and was allowed to share its findings with Mr Bitar once the investigation resumed. The contents of the French findings are not known to Mr Nassar, but it is hoped the exchange of information between judicial officials will support the case. 'I made the contacts to ensure that they could come and share information. But I didn't even meet them, it's not my role to meet them. 'We really have to respect the separation of powers in Lebanon. In a democracy, you have a proper separation. I am a minister, I am not supposed to ask questions regarding the merit of a judge's work.' Mr Nassar said he has ensured there is proper co-operation between Mr Bitar and Lebanon's top prosecutor. He also reiterated his solidarity with families of the victims. 'It is one of the most terrible crimes that occurred. It is the duty of the state to give this file a full effort, because we cannot pretend we have a state, and at the same time, not be able to address this terrible blast,' he said.
LBCI
5 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Beirut Port explosion case update: More officials defy judge as probe nears final phase
Report by Maroun Nassif, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian In the latest developments in the Beirut Port explosion case, former Public Prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat has refused to sign a summons to appear before Judicial Investigator Judge Tarek Bitar next Monday as a defendant. According to the head of the clerk's office at the Court of Cassation's Public Prosecution, Oueidat stated that he does not recognize the authority or jurisdiction of the judicial investigator, whose powers he considers suspended—meaning Oueidat will not attend Monday's session. Oueidat's response to Bitar was delivered in writing and was sharply worded. In the same letter, Oueidat also criticized Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation Judge Jamal Al-Hajjar, who served him with the summons, accusing him of implementing decisions marred by serious legal errors and violations. He urged Al-Hajjar to correct what he described as a flawed course of action. With this move, Oueidat has joined the list of political figures who have refused to appear before Judge Bitar—most notably former Minister Ghazi Zaiter, who is also expected to skip his scheduled session on Friday. Former ministers Ali Hassan Khalil and Youssef Fenianos have also defied summonses, and Bitar has issued arrest warrants in absentia for both. By contrast, a longer list of officials has complied with Bitar's investigation, including former Prime Minister Hassan Diab, former Minister Nohad Machnouk, Major Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, Major Gen. Tony Saliba, Judges Jad Maalouf, Carla Chawah, and Ghassan Khoury, General Jean Kahwaji, and former head of the Higher Customs Council Asaad al-Tufayli. After completing the interrogation phase, Bitar is still awaiting responses to several letters rogatory he sent to foreign countries, as well as testimony from additional witnesses or defendants. He will then refer the investigation file to the Court of Cassation's Public Prosecution for a non-binding opinion. According to information obtained by LBCI, the file is expected to be referred to Judge Al-Hajjar in September, which likely means Bitar will issue his indictment decision before the end of 2025.
L'Orient-Le Jour
5 days ago
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
'Those responsible will be tried,' promises Joseph Aoun
President Joseph Aoun promised Thursday to bring those responsible for the deadly double explosion at the port of Beirut to justice, during a meeting in Baabda with a delegation of relatives of the victims of the blasts that killed more than 220 people and wounded 6,500 on Aug. 4, 2020. "From now on, justice will take its course, the responsible will be tried, and the innocent will be exonerated," the head of state told his visitors. "We must all work to ensure that justice is served. My commitment is clear: We must uncover the whole truth and hold accountable those who caused this catastrophe. This is the only way to lift our country out of corruption and negligence. We will spare no effort to build a state that respects and protects the rights of its citizens. May this tragedy serve as a lesson for a better future," Aoun added. The Aug. 4, 2020, explosions, which are among the largest non-nuclear blasts in history, devastated much of the Lebanese capital. The explosion was caused by a fire in a port warehouse where tons of ammonium nitrate were being stored without precautions, despite repeated warnings to the highest authorities, who are accused of negligence. The investigation into the explosions at the Beirut port has repeatedly stalled due to political pressure. In early February, Investigative Judge Tarek Bitar at the Court of Justice resumed his hearings after nearly three years of interruption, due to repeated appeals from implicated political officials aiming to remove his authority over the case assigned to him in 2021. "We trust President Aoun ... We hope that justice will be served and that we will learn the truth during his term," said William Noun, whose brother Joe was among the firefighters killed in the disaster, speaking on behalf of the delegation. He also asked Lebanese authorities to care for people wounded in the explosion, some of whom require ongoing medical treatment. "There is no division between the families of the port victims," Noun said, as another group of victims' families, led by Ibrahim Hoteit, who also lost his brother in the explosion, is leading a campaign against Judge Tarek Bitar. Several of the victims' relatives then spoke, sharing their suffering with the president and calling for a prompt investigation. "We call on the president not to let this case escape justice," the delegation declared.
LBCI
04-07-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
No justice yet: Beirut Port explosion indictment unlikely before fifth anniversary
Report by Edmond Sassine, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi An indictment appears to be increasingly unlikely in the Beirut Port explosion case ahead of the tragedy's fifth anniversary on August 4. Judicial investigator Judge Tarek Bitar resumed proceedings in the high-profile case in January 2025, filing charges against ten military and civilian officials and scheduling interrogation sessions beginning in February. However, several key steps remain before Judge Bitar can issue the long-awaited indictment, making it improbable that the process will conclude before the anniversary. One of the most significant procedural steps ahead is the interrogation of MP Ghazi Zaiter, as well as former Public Prosecutor Judge Ghassan Oweidat. Additionally, Bitar is expected to question witnesses and await responses to international judicial requests that have already been submitted. The Public Prosecution must also present its final opinion on the investigation before Bitar can proceed with issuing formal charges. These combined steps are unlikely to be completed before August 4. As part of ongoing procedures, Judge Bitar on Friday rejected preliminary objections submitted by Zaiter's legal team after reviewing the Public Prosecution's position on those motions. The judge has now scheduled Zaiter's interrogation for July 18. In parallel, Bitar will send an official notification to Parliament through the Justice Ministry, informing lawmakers of the upcoming interrogation, given that Parliament is currently in an extraordinary session. As for the questioning of former Public Prosecutor Ghassan Oweidat, sources have not confirmed whether a date has been set for his hearing.
