At six minutes past six on August 4, 2020, the Lebanese capital was devastated at a time when everything was running smoothly in crowded Beirut. Before this fateful hour, all Lebanese were going about their lives normally, without anyone predicting that what awaited Beirut was the third-largest non-nuclear explosion in the world, to the extent it was referred to as "Beirutshima," in reference to the first atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima, Japan, which was destroyed in an instant (ironically, also on August 6, but in 1945). The Beirut port explosion instantly killed 220 people, injured around 6,500 others with varying degrees of wounds, and caused severe damage in the port suburbs and even far-off locations, with the shockwaves of the ammonium nitrate explosion reaching the nearby island of Cyprus.
While Lebanese authorities rushed to promise a quick investigation with findings expected within five days, four years have passed, and the families of the port victims are still waiting for a judicial decision that reveals the truth about what happened to their loved ones, a fate that could have befallen any other Lebanese. As Lebanon commemorates the Beirut port explosion with a national day of mourning, the victims' families continue their movement and struggle for truth and justice, holding a demonstration at the port at 5 PM on the anniversary. Rumors had circulated about the possibility of postponing or canceling it due to recent security developments, which activist William Noun (brother of firefighter Joe Noun, who died in the explosion while battling the fire that preceded it) denied, confirming that the demonstration would proceed as scheduled regardless of the number of participants and would raise demands related to the judiciary.
In an interview with "Anbaa," attorney Cecile Roukz, who is also an activist among the victims' families after losing her brother Joseph Roukz in the explosion, stated that nothing has been achieved toward truth and justice due to political interference in judicial processes and the manipulation of part of the judiciary for personal interests. This is similar to what occurred with former Public Prosecutor Ghassan Oweidat, who carried out all that the political authority wanted and more. Even when he had recused himself from the case, he released all detainees involved and abused the influence granted to him by law. He also prosecuted the investigative judge in the port crime, Tarek Bitar, for overstepping his authority. Before Oweidat left his position, Judge Jamal Al-Hajjar was appointed as the new Public Prosecutor, and Oweidat issued a judicial decision not to comply with any decisions issued by Judge Bitar.
Attorney Roukz pointed out that they have met several times with Judge Al-Hajjar, urging him to act according to his professional conscience and revoke the administrative decision issued. She said, "We receive promises, but unfortunately, political interventions are still at their peak."
In light of this, does this mean that as families of the victims, they have despaired of achieving earthly justice? Roukz responds, "No, we have not despaired. It is true that we believe in heavenly justice, but at the same time, this is a matter of right and nation, and we will remain committed to it. Sooner or later, the indictment in this case will be issued regardless of how some corrupt individuals try to evade and delay its issuance. We will continue our movement that has lasted four years; if we were to give up, we would have surrendered and stayed at home. But it is impossible not to seek justice for every person who fell, whether killed or injured, in this explosion."
After four years of the Beirut port tragedy, many hearts still burn from the loss of children, spouses, siblings, or relatives, and nothing can soothe the hearts slightly except finding out who was responsible for the destruction of the Lebanese capital, according to "Anbaa" Kuwait.
