Judge Tarek Bitar in charge of the investigation into the gigantic double explosion at the port of Beirut had to suspend his investigations on Monday, September 27, after a complaint from a former minister.

NGOs and relatives of the victims deplore a flagrant new case of political obstruction.

By the authorities' own admission, the explosion on August 4, 2020 was attributed to the storage, without precautionary measures since the end of 2013, of enormous quantities of ammonium nitrate at the port.

It left more than 200 dead, more than 6,500 injured and devastated entire neighborhoods of the Lebanese capital.

Tarek Bitar was notified of a complaint filed against him by the former Interior Minister Nohad al-Machnouk, suspected of "negligence and shortcomings" in the investigation into the double explosion.

Nohad al-Machnouk calls for the relinquishment of the judge by citing a technical flaw on the basis of a constitutional article which stipulates the prosecution of ministers and officials by the High Court of Justice alone.

>> To read also: "Explosions at the port of Beirut: who wants the skin of judge Tarek Bitar?"

The judge "Bitar suspends his investigation (...) until the Beirut Court of Appeal decides to accept the appeal (of Nohad al-Machnouk) or to reject it", told AFP a judicial source.

Blamed for criminal negligence, the authorities have rejected any international investigation.

The local investigation continues to stall, the ruling class being accused of doing everything to torpedo it and avoid charges in a country where "the culture of impunity" rages according to NGOs.

Senior political, security and judicial officials were aware of the dangers of the highly volatile substance at the port but took no preventive measures.

And this drama has plunged the country into the abyss, where the political class, unchanged for decades, is also accused of corruption, incompetence and inertia.

Lebanon "cannot face the relinquishment of another judge"

Judge Bitar's predecessor, Fadi Sawan, was relieved of his post in February after several officials were indicted.

Judge Bitar also risks being dismissed.

For several weeks, he has been at the heart of a smear campaign and has even been threatened by a senior official of the pro-Iranian Shiite armed movement Hezbollah, master of the game in Lebanon, according to local media.

In an interview with a local television, Prime Minister Najib Mikati said he hoped the court would reject the suspension because Lebanon "cannot cope with the relinquishment of another judge".

But he also accused Judge Bitar of "violating the Constitution" in the prosecution of certain officials.

The suspension of the investigation aroused the ire of human rights organizations and relatives of the victims of the explosion.

The complaint filed against Judge Bitar "clearly indicates that the political class will do everything in their power to derail, hinder and undermine the investigation and escape justice," lamented Aya Majzoub of Human Rights Watch.

Lynn Maalouf of Amnesty International has denounced a "cruel disregard" of the rights of victims, survivors and their families on the part of the ruling class.

For the spokesperson of the committee of the families of the victims Ibrahim Hoteit, it is about a "war" carried out by the persons in charge to silence the truth.

He promised an escalation in the streets if "justice is not done". 

"It's really disgusting," added Paul Naggear, father of one of the youngest victims of the tragedy, who died at the age of three.

Money orders issued

On September 15, more than 140 local and international NGOs as well as survivors and relatives of the victims of the explosion appealed to the UN for an international investigation, denouncing "the shameless obstruction of the authorities".

On Monday in New York, the UN Security Council again stressed the need for a "rapid, independent and impartial" investigation, as Lebanon is plunged into the worst socio-economic crisis in its history.

In recent months, Judge Bitar has summoned four former ministers including three deputies, including Nohad al-Machnouk, suspected of "negligence and shortcomings".

But Parliament refused to lift their immunity.

The investigator issued on August 26 an arrest warrant against ex-Prime Minister Hassan Diab after his refusal to appear for questioning, and on September 16 an arrest warrant against the former Minister of Transport Youssef Fenianos.

Before the announcement on Monday of the suspension of the investigation, relatives of the victims had planned to organize a demonstration in front of the courthouse in Beirut on Wednesday in support of Judge Bitar.

"The houses (of officials) are a target. We can also block highways and roads," Ibrahim Hoteit warned.

With AFP

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