Prosecutor General at the Mount Lebanon Court of Appeal Ghada Aoun, in front of the Beirut Justice Palace, May 4, 2023. (Credit: Hussam Shbaro/Annahar)
BEIRUT — Several dozen Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) supporters demonstrated Sunday in front of the home of the President of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary (SCJ) Souheil Abboud in Kesrouan's Ballouneh, in solidarity with dismissed prosecutor judge Ghada Aoun, who had in recent years prosecuted Banque du Liban governor Riad Salameh.
The magistrate, who is known to be close to the FPM, appealed the decision to the Higher Judicial Disciplinary Commission, chaired by Abboud. Pending the verdict of the second level body, she can continue her work, her appeal producing a suspensive effect of the decision of dismissal. There is no legal deadline for the verdict.
"Listen to us Souheil Abboud, you can not dismiss Ghada Aoun," the protesters repeated. "If the judiciary is protected, we are not afraid of Lebanon. You must protect the judiciary, the case is in your hands. The decision is yours," chanted one protester.
"They are pursuing Ghada Aoun because they are corrupt," said another. The military was deployed at the scene.
انشالله يكون عم بسمع #غادة_عون pic.twitter.com/cRTW7liRBI
— Rouri (@RouriT78) May 7, 2023
Ghada Aoun has often been in the news, notably through filmed searches, or through her positions in the media or on social networks. After filing lawsuits against several banks, as well as BDL's Salameh, her detractors accuse her of having political motivations.
On Sunday, the magistrate called for the "liberation of the judiciary," pointing the finger at the "corrupt ruling class."