News from Beirut indicates that the Higher Judicial Council in Lebanon will hear from investigative judge Tarek Bitar on Thursday. Bitar has been invited to share his views on the course of the investigation into the explosion that devastated the Beirut port on August 4, 2020, resulting in over 200 deaths and thousands of injuries.
This comes as Lebanese Minister of Justice Henry Khoury stated on Saturday that Tarek Bitar is the "master of the investigation files regarding the Beirut port explosion and has the right to summon anyone he wants." Khoury's stance was articulated during a protest by a group of women near his home, demanding an end to the pressures on Bitar, where the minister met with the group near the entrance of his residence.
Khoury added that his powers are limited, and he has no authority to review the investigations or to either retain or dismiss the investigative judge (Bitar), emphasizing that the decision in this matter rests with the Higher Judicial Council, which is the highest judicial body in Lebanon.
Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Najib Mikati stated that "the government is keen not to interfere in any matter related to the judiciary," referring to no intention to discuss the investigation into the port explosion or to dismiss Bitar. This comment followed a meeting with the Minister of Justice, the President of the Higher Judicial Council, Suhail Aboud, and the Attorney General, Ghassan Oueidat, according to a statement from his media office.
Ministers affiliated with Hezbollah and its allies, the Amal Movement and the Marada Movement, are demanding the discussion of the port explosion investigation in the Cabinet and the removal of Judge Bitar from the case.
Bitar had charged 10 officials and officers on July 2, including two MPs from the Amal Movement, Ali Hassan Khalil and Ghazi Zaaiter, as well as former Prime Minister Hassan Diab. Bitar also issued an in absentia arrest warrant for former Finance Minister and current MP Ali Hassan Khalil and requested the questioning and prosecution of former MPs and security officials in the case. However, these legal actions have been rejected by some Lebanese political factions, including Hezbollah, whose leader Hassan Nasrallah claimed that Bitar's investigations are "politicized" and "do not lead to the truth," a claim that Bitar has denied. Beirut witnessed violent clashes on Thursday following a demonstration by Hezbollah and its supporters against Bitar's investigation.
