Families of the Aug.4 explosion victims during their monthly vigil on 4 Sept. 2024. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — During their monthly gathering on Wednesday at the Emigrant Statue near Beirut Port, the Association of Beirut Port Explosion Victims commended Judge Jamal al-Hajjar for his "boldness" in financial cases and his pursuit of former Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh and urged him to apply the same level of determination to the crucial and national issue of the Beirut Port explosion, they said in a statement relayed by the National News Agency (NNA).
Salameh was arrested in Beirut, Tuesday, after being questioned "for three hours by the attorney general regarding suspicions of embezzlement of BDL funds exceeding $40 million," a judicial source who requested anonymity told AFP.
The association questioned Judge Hajar on "why the case remains stalled under his watch," highlighting that his "achievements in other significant cases demonstrate his ability to take decisive and bold actions."
"We hope to see the same commitment and resolve in the Beirut Port case," the statement said.
The association also expressed gratitude to Pope Francis for "his empathy and support for the victims and their cause," noting that his humanitarian stance has positively affected their morale and strengthened their pursuit of justice. The Pope has pledged to support their efforts to uncover the truth.
The association urged the investigative judge to schedule hearings and advance the investigation, asserting that there are no legal barriers to doing so and questioning whether financial influences might be obstructing progress.
They also claimed that while politicians have refrained from intervening in financial matters related to the Central Bank governor, they have interfered in the Beirut Port explosion case and obstructed the work of the investigating judge. The association called for the same standard of non-intervention to be applied to judicial matters and investigations.
The statement concluded with a demand for a thorough and transparent investigation to ensure justice for the victims and their families.
The explosion on Aug. 4 injured approximately 6,500 people and devastated entire neighborhoods. Families of the victims continue to seek justice, while the investigation led by Judge Tarek Bitar is hindered by intense political interference.
More than four years after the tragedy, the investigation has been stalled by various political maneuvers and is currently suspended due to multiple complaints filed against Bitar, notably by MPs Ghazi Zeaiter, Ali Hassan Khalil, and former Public Works Minister Youssef Fenianos. All three are being prosecuted in the investigation and have had arrest warrants issued against them.