In a significant move to combat impunity in the country, Lebanon’s Minister of Justice, Adel Nassar, has appointed a team of judicial investigators to reopen and pursue cases of political assassinations that have haunted the nation for decades.
The appointed judges will handle some of Lebanon’s most notorious cases:
- Judge Sami Sader – The assassination of MP and Minister Pierre Amin Gemayel and Samir Shartouni
- Judge Yahya Ghaboura – The armed attack in Ehden, which killed MP Tony Frangieh, his family, and companions
- Judge Claude Ghanem – The assassination of MP and journalist Gebran Ghassan Tueni and his companions
- Judge Samer Lichaa – The assassination of journalist Samir Kassir
- Judge Samer Younes – The assassination of MP Antoine Ghanem and his companions
- Judge Fadi Sawan – The assassination of former Minister Elie Hobeika
- Judge Joseph Tamer – The attempted assassination of former President Camille Chamoun
- Judge Amira Sabra – The assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Assaf
- Judge Kamal Nassar – The murder of Sheikh Saleh al-Aridi in Baysour
- Judge Fadi Akiki – The attempted assassination of Engineer Mustafa Maarouf Saad
- Judge Alaa Khatib – The clashes in Bourday, Baalbek
Minister Nassar emphasized that this step is part of a broader effort to restore trust in the judicial system and ensure that no case of political violence remains unresolved.
The move comes amid ongoing public frustration over decades of unresolved political crimes and the widespread perception of impunity in Lebanon. By formally appointing these judicial investigators, the Ministry of Justice aims to bring transparency, accountability, and, ultimately, justice for victims and their families.
