Hezbollah fighters parade in the southern suburbs of Beirut on April 14, 2023. (Credit: Anwar Amro/AFP)
Military investigating judge Rayan Nasr issued an arrest warrant on Tuesday for one of six Hezbollah supporters against whom government commissioner Claude Ghanem had initiated proceedings last week on charges of weapon possession and transport.
This unprecedented judicial measure follows a decision adopted by the Cabinet on March 2 explicitly banning all military activity by the party. On March 3, Judge Ghanem referred three Hezbollah members to the military court; they were released six days later.
After proceedings were initiated against the other six supporters, Ghanem transferred their files to the chief military investigating judge Ghada Abou Alouane, who, in line with her administrative prerogatives, distributed them among several investigating judges, including Rayan Nasr.
After questioning the Hezbollah member referred to him, Nasr ordered his pretrial detention and forwarded the file to the military prosecutor for an opinion. He also submitted a request for release filed by the defendant. The final decision on both the charges and the release request rests with the prosecutor.
A judicial source told L’Orient-Le Jour that the arrested members of the Shiite party generally consider their actions do not constitute criminal offenses, but rather part of what they view as legitimate right to resistance and defense.
According to our information, hearings are scheduled next week for the other five individuals arrested. Three of them are also being prosecuted for possession and transport of small arms (a misdemeanor), while the other two face charges of possession and transport of rockets (a felony).
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