A Lawsuit Filed by UFL Concerning the Port Bombing Set the Ceiling for Investigation in front of the Judicial Council... and a Stand in Front of the Palace of Justice tomorrow, Thursday

Finally, after a strenuous process and after United For Lebanon (UFL) filed a lawsuit about the port bombing before the First Investigative Judge in Beirut, Lawsuit No. 1 has been admitted before the Judicial Council today, Wednesday, August 26, 2020. Accordingly, this actual lawsuit is the first and only before the Judicial Investigator in which UFL attorneys took the role of personal prosecution with all responsibility, which makes them a main party in the investigations and trial before the Judicial Council, after the State Public Prosecution's allegation before it in a manner that does not rise to the minimum level of real accountability that all Lebanese aspire to, unfortunately; holding minor perpetrators accountable while letting off of their senior supervisors remains insufficient and way below the level of criminal corruption that the Lebanese citizens wish to see an end to.

In this regard, UFL attorneys thank the Head of the Higher Judicial Council, Judge Suhail Abboud, for his constant support and his interference where necessary, especially regarding the unfortunate circumstances and violations of the law by the Investigation Judiciary in Beirut, a matter that UFL took a strict and practical stance at, starting with the appeal of the investigative judge’s decision, to procrastinating and refusing to register the case, to pressing charges in front of the Judicial Inspection Authority, to the request of setting aside the State Prosecutor General Judge Ghassan Oweidat; it is not lawful to be a defendant before the Judicial Council while a member of it at the same time.

The most important thing remains that the aforementioned UFL lawsuit is the only real way to set the ceiling by the Judicial Investigator in the investigations into the horrific crime. It would be either content with the timid and even shameful allegation against the "juniors" by the State Public Prosecution, or it would amount to what the Lebanese hope of holding accountable the heads of the judicial/security hierarchy and those behind them who are implicated, a matter that puts the Judicial Council and the entire Lebanese judiciary at stake in the process of reforming the judiciary and the real fight against corruption.

Faced with this extremely sensitive and dangerous reality, UFL calls for a “stand” in front of the Palace of Justice in Beirut at 2 pm tomorrow, Thursday, August 27, 2020, to explain the serious developments and the steps taken to undermine the investigation and thus the credibility of the Judicial Council at the time its investigations have just kicked off.