Opposition MPs on Friday speak during a press conference following a meeting in Parliament. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — After a meeting in Parliament on Friday, several opposition MPs denounced Lebanon's "hateful police regime," in response to Thursday's assault against demonstrators and parliamentarians on the sidelines of a protest movement in front of Beirut's Justice Palace.
The protest was staged in reaction to public prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat's ordered release of all detainees in connection with the 2020 Beirut port explosion, the state-run National News Agency reported.
"The Lebanese people are witnessing the murder of justice, through illegal and surreal decisions and means," the opposition MPs said in a joint statement read by MP Waddah Sadek. "We will not make concessions on the bloodshed by the innocent victims of Aug. 4, 2020."
On Wednesday, Attorney General at the Court of Cassation Ghassan Oueidat ordered the release of the 17 people detained without trial since the deadly Aug. 4 explosion at the Beirut port, arousing the ire of the victims' families.
Oueidat issued the decision despite formerly recusing himself from monitoring the blast investigation led by Judge Tarek Bitar. Oueidat is also a relative of MP and former minister Ghazi Zeaiter, who is implicated in Bitar's investigation.
On Thursday, a demonstration organized by the victims' relatives and activists denouncing the detainees' releases in front of the Justice Ministry degenerated into clashes with the police, who used batons and tear gas on protesters.
At least eight people were injured, including one protester who suffered damage to the head. Several opposition MPs participating in the protests were assaulted by bodyguards of caretaker Justice Minister Henri Khoury during a meeting in his office.
Reacting to these incidents, opposition MPs denounced "the attacks on the people and their representatives in a barbaric scene that does not befit justice," and called for an investigation.
They also rejected the "attacks on the prerogatives" of Judge Bitar, calling on him to continue his investigation.
'Beirut, mother of laws'
General Security Director Abbas Ibrahim, who is also being prosecuted by Judge Bitar, addressed Lebanese judges from the Maronite patriarchal headquarters of Bkirki on Friday.
"Beirut is the mother of laws, do not let her become the mother of the street," he said.
In response to a question about Mohammad Ziad al-Awf, head of the Beirut port security who fled to the United States after Oueidat released him on Wednesday, Ibrahim denied that Awf violated the law.
Awf fled Lebanon before a travel ban was issued against him.
