The Association of "Victims of the Beirut Port Disaster" issued a statement following their monthly vigil in front of the expatriate statue opposite the Beirut Port, during which they lit candles and prayed for the souls of the martyrs at the time of the explosion. They remarked that "the crime of the port and the massacre of August 4, with over 230 victims, is approaching its third year, and the hands of those obstructing justice continue to interfere with investigations and the judiciary. The obstructors are still striving to conceal the truth and place obstacles in the way of justice and the judiciary."
They added: "We breathed a scent of hope after the issuance of the first international civil court ruling confirming the responsibility of one of the involved parties, namely the Safaro company, in the port explosion, after it attempted to liquidate itself in early 2021 to evade its responsibilities. Yes, it is the first international judicial ruling in collaboration with the prosecution office, in which we have always placed our trust and supported over the past three years of waiting for justice. This decision may revive a case that was sentenced to death and buried among militia decisions and baseless accusations."
The association reported that "unprecedented audacity has emerged following the illegal release of detainees, some of whom have left the country, and others attempting to return to their workplaces while circumventing the State Shura authority with flimsy excuses. Neither the freedom you enjoy suits you nor your claims of innocence and shifting responsibilities. You remain, in the eyes of the law and the investigating judge in the port explosion case, Tarek Bitar, defendants, and you are still wanted by justice, which will eventually be achieved."
They further noted: "The prosecution office acting on behalf of the families of the victims and the hurt from the August 4 tragedy has filed a series of lawsuits and complaints with the Judicial Inspection to address the legal violations committed by the Attorney General Ghassan Oueidat, who recused himself from the port case due to his family ties with one of the defendants.
Lawsuits include claims against the state regarding the responsibilities arising from the actions of the investigative judges before the General Assembly of the Court of Cassation to annul decisions issued by the recused Attorney General due to grave errors, a letter directed to the Minister of Justice to refer the recused Attorney General to the Judicial Inspection for appropriate actions against him, and criminal complaints against the recused Attorney General for crimes of abuse of power, interference in a criminal investigation, and the smuggling of detainees, among other serious crimes, in addition to other lawsuits and reviews that will be announced in due course."
The association called for "judicial restructuring, and for the Beirut case file to be released, as it is the right of our victims to know the truth and achieve justice. Keep your hands off the Beirut case."
