Because only one person was convicted
The decision of the International Tribunal did not like the supporters of Hariri
For several years after his death, Hariri's pictures hung on the walls of Beirut, but they have now disappeared. Father
Nasrallah called on the Lebanese not to cooperate with the International Special Tribunal for Lebanon
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Lebanon has waited 15 years for an answer to a heated question: Who killed former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri? But when the UN-backed Special Court issued its decision, last Tuesday, in The Hague, the city of a senior Hezbollah official, many officials in Lebanon met her by submitting their resignations.
The Special Court in Lebanon said that a Hezbollah man, Salim Ayyash, had orchestrated the explosion that killed Hariri in 2005, when he was convicted in absentia. But it acquitted three other people, and confirmed that there was not enough evidence confirming the involvement of the leader of "Hezbollah" or the Syrian government in the crime.
Ataxia
As for the Lebanese, who are divided into ethnic, religious and political groups, and are still reeling from the horrific explosion, which killed about 180 people, in Beirut this month, the decision of the Special Court contained enough ambiguity for all parties, to keep the matter as it is.
In one of the predominantly Sunni suburbs of Beirut, called "Tareeq Al Jadidah", in which the Future Movement, led by former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, and which gained great popular support, was called for a gathering of Hariri supporters pending the issuance of the decision. But few people appeared, and everyone seemed to be disappointed. The Lebanese Mahmoud Asi, expressing his astonishment, said: “One person committed this crime alone? What is this man, is he the Grendizer? ”, Referring to a famous cartoon character in a Japanese series, where this character can do whatever works she wants, no matter how fictional. "The only thing we knew was that the man was in a love relationship," he added, referring to the hundreds of messages that Ayyash exchanged with his friends.
The army had deployed to the city, shortly before the court’s ruling emerged, amid concerns that the possibility of indicting Hezbollah members could inflame sectarian tensions. But none of that happened. Some of the men, who gathered at the place, were complaining about the dire financial situation that Lebanon was facing. The Lebanese currency has lost 80% of its value in recent months, and food prices have increased in an unprecedented way, and electrical current has become a rare currency.
Lebanese Walid Dana said: «Who ordered the operation? It is impossible for Ayyash to be alone, ”indicating that he believes he is" Hezbollah. " He added, "Ayyash is just a soldier. We want the people who gave the execution order." The four accused persons were being tried in absentia, including Ayyash himself, as their whereabouts are unknown. It seems unlikely that any arrests will be made, following the decision.
Saad Hariri, son of Rafic Hariri, the former prime minister, said that he accepts the court’s decision, but wants to send a “message to those who committed this terrorist crime and those behind them,” adding: “The era of resorting to crime and murder in politics with impunity, and without paying the price. It is now over. ”Hezbollah is already facing enormous challenges, including US sanctions, the financial crisis in Lebanon, and the protest movement targeting the party, in addition to the country's political class.
Pictures of the gallows
In the aftermath of the August 4 explosion, which killed about 180 people and destroyed areas of Beirut, the demonstrators rushed into the streets, using the ropes from which they made gallows, and hung pictures of political leaders, including Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Nobody could have imagined seeing her last year.
Supporters of "Hezbollah" viewed the Special Court for Lebanon as illegal, which is a foreign conspiracy against "Hezbollah". Nasrallah said, in 2010, shortly after the formation of the Special Court: “I call on every official and every Lebanese citizen to boycott these investigators and not cooperate with them.” And he said last week, while Lebanon awaited the court’s decision that was postponed as a result of the explosion: “If Our brothers were imprisoned unjustly, as we expect, we will keep their innocence. ”
It seems that Nasrallah’s supporters were following his example. On a crowded street full of Hezbollah flags, a person, who said his name was only Hussein, hastened to reject the court’s decision, considering it a plot by foreign countries aimed at setting a wedge inside Lebanon and weakening Hezbollah. . Hussein said, while in his shop, whose windows were shattered, as a result of the explosion that occurred about two weeks ago in the city, and destroyed large parts of it: “They are focusing on (Hezbollah) to create a new Middle East. They killed an important leader such as Rafik Hariri, in order to stir up unrest among the people. ”Like many Hezbollah supporters, Hussein saw the court’s decision as proof that Hezbollah was not involved in the killing of Hariri. But he said: Even if the Special Court for Lebanon decided that "Hezbollah" was involved, that would not change its position in support of it.
Many have blamed Hezbollah for the bombing of the Beirut port, as there are multiple theories about it, but without proof, apart from the political and military role that the party plays in Lebanon. Others have called for an international investigation, as they do not trust the government's investigations.
The party rejected the allegations of its involvement, although it is now clear that at least some Lebanese leaders knew that there were about 3000 tons of high explosive ammonium nitrate stored in the Beirut civilian port, and nothing happened about that.
Although murders occurred in Lebanon regularly, the killing of Hariri was the most significant in Lebanon. For several years after the murder, huge pictures of the former Prime Minister Hariri were hung on public walls throughout Beirut. After the killing of Hariri, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in central Beirut, in protests called the "Cedar Revolution", which eventually led to the Syrian army's departure from Lebanon. This revolution was the largest political upheaval since the end of the civil war in 1990.
But 15 years after Hariri's murder, Hariri's photos no longer exist on the streets of Beirut. In a cafe, where pictures of Hariri and his son Saad are still hanging, his supporters said they wanted justice, but were worried about the deteriorating economic situation.
“Rafik Hariri died 15 years ago, and we do not want to fight again, but rather we want to live,” said Osama Abdel-Karim, who fights hard to meet the needs of his family as a result of the worst economic crisis in decades. All those who spoke about justice for Hariri, or revenge because they could not do anything against the well-organized and armed Hezbollah. "We cannot do anything because (Hezbollah) took the state, and it has weapons," Abdul Karim said.
Rebecca Collard is a British writer and journalist working in the Middle East
Fifteen years after Hariri's murder, Hariri's photos no longer exist on the streets of Beirut. In a cafe, pictures of Hariri and his son Saad are still hanging, as his supporters said they wanted justice, but were worried about the deteriorating economic situation.
For the Lebanese, who are divided into ethnic, religious and political groups, and are still reeling from the horrific explosion, which killed about 180 people in Beirut this month, the decision of the Special Court contained enough ambiguity for all parties, to keep the matter as it is.