Sleiman Responds to Campaigns: I Will Not Violate the Law

A statement was issued by the media office of the Minister of National Defense, Maurice Sleiman, as follows: "Despite the critical circumstances Lebanon is experiencing and the increasing concerns due to Israeli attacks in the south and the repercussions of the war in Gaza, certain parties find time to renew campaigns against the Minister of National Defense as if everything happening falls on one side, and the bias against the minister falls on another. There is even more pressure being placed on military judges to not implement the decisions issued by the authority designated by law to issue them, which pertain to the justice sector in military courts. The Minister of National Defense affirms the following facts: 1- The decisions to appoint officers in the military court, as well as the extension of operations until 29/2/2024 regarding the decisions related to the Military Court of Cassation and the single military judiciary for the year 2023, were issued in accordance with the proper procedures and were circulated to all relevant institutions and agencies. However, these officers have been prevented from carrying out their judicial duties, which entails a refusal to achieve justice in the military judiciary. 2- The minister's failure to sign the decisions to appoint officers in the Military Court of Cassation and in the single military judiciary is due to the proposed appointments lacking individuals who hold a degree in law, which contradicts legal texts regarding this matter and the legal concept of those who undertake judicial responsibilities. 3- If the demand is for the Minister of National Defense to violate the law, this will not happen, regardless of how intense the pressures and campaigns of extortion, defamation, and incitement in both media and non-media may be. Those concerned, especially those in positions of responsibility, should pressure in the right direction, which is to compel those who violate the decisions made according to the law to adhere to them, particularly by not preventing officers from carrying out their judicial duties in military courts, beyond what this represents as a refusal to achieve justice and a disruption of the justice sector in the military judiciary.”