
The Palais de Justice building in Beirut. (Credit: P.H.B.)
The Lebanese Judges Association submitted a request last week to the Attorney General at the Court of Cassation, Jamal Hajjar, to open a judicial investigation into rumors alleging sexual harassment of young female judges by one of their colleagues.
The document, an excerpt of which was reviewed by L'Orient-Le Jour, urges Judge Hajjar to "conduct a serious, transparent, and swift investigation into information suggesting that several female judges have been victims of sexual harassment."
The Association members emphasize the need to "uncover the truth on this very sensitive matter" and call on the prosecutor to "take action against anyone involved in these acts or against those spreading false information if the allegations prove to be untrue."
Approximately two months ago, the electronic site SBI (Sawt Beirut International) reported "sexist behavior" by a judge towards female magistrates who "dare not reveal the harassment they have experienced." This comment was removed following a complaint by the accused judge, and the author of the post was summoned by Prosecutor Hajjar, who requested its removal, according to a judicial source interviewed by L'Orient-Le Jour. This retraction was accompanied by an apology from the aforementioned media outlet to "any judicial personality who was harmed" by the publication. Attempts to access the presumed apology page were unsuccessful, likely because it had been deleted.
Nonetheless, internet users continued to spread the harassment rumors mentioned on the site through their social media pages.