EU calls for independent Lebanese judiciary. Syriac Maronite Patriarch and Lebanese Forces leader call for internationalization of investigation into Beirut port explosion

The investigation into the explosion at the port of Beirut on 4 August 2020 is once again the subject of heated debate in Lebanon. Several political and religious leaders in the country are calling for a quick and full resumption, and even internationalization, of the investigation that left more than 200 people dead and thousands injured after tons of ammonium nitrate exploded.

The investigation is led by investigating judge Tarek Bitar but has been suspended for months.

Newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat reports that the Syriac Maronite Patriarch Mor Bechara Boutros al-Raï may publish a list of people and organizations demanding an international investigation into the circumstances of the port explosion. Such a step would increase the pressure on the Lebanese judiciary and prevent the case from being covered up, as was done in earlier cases where the perpetrators and their supporters were left off the hook.

Activists and human rights organizations say that the Lebanese judiciary is unable to conduct the investigation in a neutral and transparent way, as was seen in the case of the assassination of PM Rafik Hariri, due to corruption and conflicting interests of sectarian and political factions, not least the Iran-proxy Hezbollah.

In turn, Dr. Samir Geagea, head of the Lebanese Forces party, stressed during his meeting with UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Ambassador Joanna Wronecka, that the Lebanese investigation must be supported by an international fact-finding committee to revealing all facts of the crime.

Some EU member states, together with Norway and Switzerland, on Friday also expressed concerns about the state of affairs of the investigation. They demanded in a statement that all parties concerned must respect the independence of the Lebanese judiciary, refrain from all interference, and allow a fair and transparent judicial investigation.