The Lebanese Supreme Judicial Court will meet Judge Tarek Bitar this Tuesday in order to hear his opinion on the progress of the Beirut Blast investigation.
The judge’s work has been interrupted several times in the past month; 3 ex-ministers who were called for questioning refused to show up.
In addition to refusing to show up, they also filed lawsuits against Judge Bitar, all of which have been rejected so far.
These lawsuits paused the judge’s work for around a week. Lebanese people and families of the Beirut Blast victims took to the street to show their support and trust in the judge.
The situation around the investigation heated up this week with partisans of Amal and Hezbollah protesting against Judge Bitar, to further pressure for his removal.
The event turned violent inside residential areas, resulting in more than 7 deaths and some 60 reported wounded.
Judge Tarek Bitar was appointed to investigate the Beirut Blast in February of this year after intense political pressure pushed out his predecessor, Judge Fadi Sawan.
Since then, he has summoned several ex-ministers for questioning, as well as the previous Head of Cabinet Hassan Diab. Among the ministers summoned and who sued Judge Bitar are Nohad al Mashnouk and Ali Hassan Khalil.
The court dismissed all filed lawsuits as the investigation of the Beirut Blast case has become itself a case in court, even before reaching justice.
On Friday, the Lebanese Judge Association announced that they will no longer accept requests to remove Judge Bitar, showing support to the lawful process of his investigation.
“Whoever has ears should listen well to the voice of the law, and stop messing with the last bastion of the idea of the state,” their statement read.
