Human Lives Human Rights: The decision by Lebanon’s Cassation Court to suspend the arrest warrant against former public works minister, Youssef Fenianos, charged in connection to the Beirut port blast, has elicited widespread condemnation as yet another setback for justice.
“The suspension of Fenianos’ arrest warrant is a grave injustice and further evidence of the systematic obstruction of the Beirut blast investigation,” asserted a human rights advocate. “It underscores the authorities’ persistent efforts to evade accountability, leaving the victims and their families without closure or redress.”
Amidst mounting frustration over Lebanon’s faltering judicial process, characterized by the release of suspects and legal challenges against investigators, calls for international intervention have intensified. Urgent appeals have been made to the United Nations Human Rights Council to establish an independent fact-finding mission to uncover the truth and deliver justice for the victims and survivors.
Background: The decision to suspend Fenianos’ arrest warrant follows a series of legal maneuvers aimed at impeding the investigation. Former cabinet minister Ali Hassan Khalil, similarly charged, remains shielded from prosecution by parliamentary immunity. Both individuals have refused to cooperate with investigators, casting doubt on the integrity of the domestic inquiry.
The Beirut blast probe has been marred by delays and obstacles, with Judge Tarek Bitar facing legal challenges and intimidation attempts. Efforts to resume the investigation have been thwarted by arbitrary legal maneuvers, perpetuating impunity and denying justice to those affected by one of the deadliest non-nuclear explosions in history.
