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After Judge Bitar questioned some of the most senior politicians about the deadly Beirut bombing, Lebanese leaders often criticized him.
Beirut, Lebanon – The leader of Hezbollah on Monday accused the judge who led the investigation into the Beirut Port bombing of being politicized, telling the victims of the deadly bombing that “you will not get the truth”.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Said Hassan Nasrallah stated that Judge Tarek Bitar is “serving political interests with the blood of victims.” He had previously accused Bitar of “playing politics” on the anniversary of the bombing in August.
Nasrallah said in a televised speech: “I said to the victim’s family,’If you think this judge will let you know the truth, he will not’.” “We want an honest and transparent judge.”
Nasrallah called on the Lebanese High Judicial Council, the country’s highest judicial organ, to convene a meeting. It can hold a vote, not only to remove Bitar from the case, but also from its right to serve as a judge.
“Tracking specific agencies, specific ministers, and specific prime ministers is clearly a political goal,” Nasrallah said, and questioned why Bitar had not contacted other former ministers who had served within six years, and explosive materials were stored unsafely in Beirut port. .
Since last summer, Lebanese leaders have often criticized Bitar. He had previously questioned the former Prime Minister Hassan Diab and the former Minister of Public Works. Youssef Fignanos Ghazi Zeiter, former Finance Minister Ali Hasan Khalil and former Interior Minister Nuhad Mahnuk.
They accused Bitar of prejudice and filed several legal complaints with the judiciary, demanding his removal. But so far, they have not succeeded.
A senior security official of Hezbollah Allegedly threatened Bitar at a face-to-face meeting in the judge’s office last month. The matter is still under investigation.
Bitar arranged for Khalil to be interrogated on Tuesday, followed by Machnouk and Zeiter on Wednesday. Since the former prime minister is currently in the United States, he arranged a date to ask Diab later this month.
he still Repeated attempts to summon Major General Abbas Ibrahim, Director of the General Security Administration, and Major General Tony Saliba, Head of National Security.
‘Clear documents and evidence’
On August 4, 2020, an explosion in Beirut killed more than 200 people. A large amount of ammonium nitrate stored in the port unsafe for many years was detonated. The explosion was one of the largest non-nuclear explosions on record and the single most destructive event in the country’s turbulent history.
Approximately 6,500 people were injured and entire neighborhoods in the Lebanese capital were destroyed.
Legal expert and founder of the regulatory agency’s legal agenda, Nizar Saghieh, stated that in his televised speech, Nasrallah actually called for Bitar to be removed. Saghieh disagrees that Bitar’s investigation is politically motivated.
“He is calling people with clear documents and evidence,” Saji told Al Jazeera. “For example, Diab is the only prime minister with clear documents [of his knowledge] About ammonium nitrate. “
Saji said that Diab was in an “abnormal situation” and added that he believed the country’s leadership had systematically targeted him.
“Which judge in the world can be attacked in the most difficult case in the history of his country?”
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