Heavy security forces have been deployed around the courthouse
Families of victims of the explosion, which occurred in 2020 in the port of Beirut, are today organizing a rally in support of the judge who has taken over the related investigation and is being prosecuted for disobedience due to his determination to continue his investigations into this tragedy.
Families of the victims called for this morning rally in front of the Beirut courthouse “to support the investigation” by independent judge Tarek Bitar into the explosion that took place on August 4, 2020 and killed at least 215 people. while 6,500 were injured and entire districts of the Lebanese capital were destroyed.
Heavy security forces have been deployed around the courthouse, according to an AFP correspondent on the ground.
In a statement, the families of the victims denounced “the political, judicial and police coup” represented by the decision to prosecute Judge Bitar.
The statement emphasized that the authorities bear “full responsibility for the safety of the judge”, who knows he is under threat in a country with countless political assassinations.
On Monday, to everyone’s surprise, Judge Bitar decided to resume his investigation, which had been suspended for 13 months due to pressure from a large section of Lebanon’s political class, including the powerful pro-Iranian armed party Hezbollah.
Bitar charged officials, most notably Prosecutor General Ghassan Weidat and two senior security officials, with “possible homicidal intent,” a first in Lebanon’s history.
In retaliation, Weidat decided to prosecute Judge Bitar for “standing against justice” and “usurpation of power”.
Judge Bitar was summoned to appear in court today at 10:00 (local and Greek time), but he refused, according to a court official.
This judicial bra-de-fer threatens to overshadow the investigation into this huge explosion, which was caused by the careless storage of hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate in a warehouse in the port of Beirut.
Lebanese authorities are accused by non-governmental organizations and victims’ families of torpedoing the local investigation to avoid indictments and denying an international investigation.
RES-EMP
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
