The silos at the Beirut port stand devastated in the aftermath of the Aug. 4, 2020 explosion. (Credit: João Sousa/L’Orient Today)
BEIRUT — Families of the victims of the Aug. 4, 2020 port blast criticized Friday, on the 18month anniversary of the port explosion, the politicians who are running for reelection in the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for May 15, saying “we are surprised by everyone who inaugurated themselves and decided to run again.”
Here’s what we know:
• In a statement, the families of the victims said, “It is shameful that a criminal might be a decision maker once again. Wasn’t the crime of the century enough? Can you be responsible for the lives and the properties of the citizens? ...we say to them your place is in jail, not a parliamentary position.”
• The families also said that they are not affiliated with any candidate who tries to use their cause: “We will not let anyone use our cause and people’s feelings for political and electoral reasons.”
• “We call on the judges to speed up the process of deciding on the requests [to remove Judge Tarek Bitar] which is now clearly an excuse for putting obstacles in the way of the port blast investigation,” the statement added in reference to the suspension of the port blast investigation due to the consistent requests from officials who have been called for questioning in the investigation to remove Bitar.
• The families announced plans to protest in front of Beirut's Justice Palace on Monday at 4 p.m.
• The Aug. 4 explosion resulted in more than 200 deaths and thousands of injuries, in addition to a massive property damage in the areas surrounding the port.