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Beirut Blast Investigation Suspended For 10 Days Over Legal Dispute
Frustrating news for Lebanon. With every one step forward towards justice, we seem to stumble 10 steps back.
Last night, the National News Agency (NNA) reported that the Beirut blast investigation has been halted for 10 days over legal disputes.
This comes as the top judicial investigator Judge Fadi Sawwan indicted caretaker PM Hassan Diab and former ministers Ali Hassan Khalil, Youssef Fenianos, and Ghazi Zaiter with negligence, leading to the death of 200+ people and thousands more injured.
The senior officials were called in for questioning, but have yet to be questioned as the judge’s unprecedented move was challenged by the ruling class.
Immediate calls were sent out to the protect the status (when they really mean sect) of the Prime Ministerial and Presidential posts, and obstacles were thrown the judge’s way as he was accused of violating legal and constitutional procedures.
This 10-day suspension should give Judge Sawwan some time to respond to these accusations, working alongside the Bar Association representing the victims’ families.
In solidarity with the judge, groups gathered outside his house last night, protesting for him to carry on with the investigation and summon all those responsible.
It’s hard to foresee how the investigation will go, especially considering how hard the ruling class is fighting back. If anything, this makes them look more guilty than ever, and very unprepared to be held accountable for their crime.
Last night, the National News Agency (NNA) reported that the Beirut blast investigation has been halted for 10 days over legal disputes.
— National News Agency (@NNALeb) December 17, 2020
This comes as the top judicial investigator Judge Fadi Sawwan indicted caretaker PM Hassan Diab and former ministers Ali Hassan Khalil, Youssef Fenianos, and Ghazi Zaiter with negligence, leading to the death of 200+ people and thousands more injured.
The senior officials were called in for questioning, but have yet to be questioned as the judge’s unprecedented move was challenged by the ruling class.
Immediate calls were sent out to the protect the status (when they really mean sect) of the Prime Ministerial and Presidential posts, and obstacles were thrown the judge’s way as he was accused of violating legal and constitutional procedures.
This 10-day suspension should give Judge Sawwan some time to respond to these accusations, working alongside the Bar Association representing the victims’ families.
In solidarity with the judge, groups gathered outside his house last night, protesting for him to carry on with the investigation and summon all those responsible.
— National News Agency (@NNALeb) December 17, 2020
It’s hard to foresee how the investigation will go, especially considering how hard the ruling class is fighting back. If anything, this makes them look more guilty than ever, and very unprepared to be held accountable for their crime.