The people of Lebanon are marking five years since the Beirut port explosion of August 4, 2020 – a blast that has been described as one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history. The detonation pulverised the port, ruined vast sections of the city and was felt as far away as Cyprus. It also claimed the lives of more than 220 people, injured more than 7,000 more and left more than 300,000 homeless.
The horror of that day is beyond words – the force of the explosion, the shattered city and the wounded and the dead scattered across and beyond the port. But even that devastation pales in comparison to the nightmare of searching through hospitals the evening of the blast for my brother, who worked at a private company operating inside the port.
We searched all night, hospital after hospital, and returned home around 5am, devastated and empty-handed. None of us could sleep. At dawn, we resumed the search, until we eventually found him in the morgue at Rafik Hariri University Hospital. We were forced to bury him without even a final goodbye. Not seeing his face one last time is a pain that words cannot describe.
The explosion resulted from the detonation of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, with a nitrogen grade of 33.5 per cent. This had been stocked illegally under the supervision of high-level security officials, and with the full knowledge of five different security agencies, despite the danger it posed and in violation of Lebanese law. This clearly suggests a deep level of corruption.
It is difficult to assign liability with certainty at this stage. But, in breaking the relevant laws and regulations, a crime was certainly committed. Therefore, legal responsibility must be established for all those implicated in the events that led to the explosion.
If these people had done their duty, the storm resulting from the nitrate explosion would not have swept through the city
Although the investigation into this crime has faced many challenges and obstructions, Judge Tarek Bitar, who took over in early 2021 after his predecessor Fadi Sawan was dismissed, is perseverant.
Since his appointment, he has been the target of several baseless complaints demanding his recusal from the investigation. Judges examining the recusal lawsuits have, in turn, been confronted by recusal lawsuits themselves. This is in addition to claims against the state of purported gross misconduct by investigating judges. The number of such complaints, intended to derail the investigation, has potentially reached more than 40 so far.
Several politicians and their allies have used all sort of tactics to hinder the investigation. These have included running campaigns to undermine the probe and daily attempts to discredit judges and generally escape accountability. All these actions and obstructions reflect a pattern in Lebanon, in which political officials and influential figures have grown accustomed to impunity and the absence of legal scrutiny.
The political war over Judge Bitar’s probe has also produced threats against him personally and violence on the streets. Hezbollah, the Iran-backed party and militant group, together with Amal – a political ally led by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri – has allegedly been trying to push the judge out since his appointment.
However, the investigator’s determination to move the case forward led to the issuance of a legal analysis on January 25, 2023. This, Judge Bitar stated, gave him the authority to resume his work on the Beirut port explosion case. He had been suspended from the investigation since December 23, 2021, amid legal disputes and intense political pressure. Upon resuming his duties, Judge Bitar brought charges against several senior officials, including Lebanon’s top public prosecutor, Ghassan Oweidat.
In response, Mr Oweidat reversed his prior recusal – a move widely regarded by experts as lacking legal basis or unlawful – and charged Judge Bitar with “usurping power”, summoning him for questioning. He also imposed a travel ban on Judge Bitar and ordered the release of all 17 detainees connected to the blast, leaving one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history without a single suspect in custody.
Under Lebanese law, the authority to decide on the release or continued detention of individuals lies with the investigating judge, not the public prosecutor. In this case, it appears that the Prosecutor General, whose role is to represent the public interest, may have acted beyond his legal powers, potentially committing serious procedural and legal violations, in addition to the charges he already faces in connection with the explosion.
Mr Oweidat did not stop at these violations. He went further by issuing an order to the judicial police and the Public Prosecution Office instructing them not to co-operate with Judge Bitar – a move many legal experts have described as lacking legal basis and potentially obstructing justice.
However, despite all this, Judge Bitar resumed interrogations on February 10 this year, questioning the remaining defendants, including former prime minister Hassan Diab, politicians, judges and senior security officials. He completed all interrogations and chose to withhold decisions on individuals until a full indictment was issued.
The newly appointed public prosecutor, Judge Jamal Hajjar, also reversed the directive previously issued by the defendant, Mr Oweidat, restoring co-operation between the investigative judge and the Public Prosecution Office.
As of July 21, Judge Bitar has completed all his questioning and is now awaiting responses to several judicial requests that were sent abroad.
The port explosion was a turning point in the lives of the Lebanese people, with many families emigrating after that date, especially after witnessing how the country’s political class handled the investigation with disregard for justice and open threats to the judiciary. Many also lost hope of uncovering the truth, as the Lebanese grew accustomed to a prevailing culture of impunity.
However, the situation is different for the victims' families. They do not cling to the word "hope" because the justice they are demanding is a victim’s right, not an aspiration.
Lebanon’s new government and new president have pledged, within the powers granted to them by the constitution, to do everything necessary to ensure justice is done in the port case. However, the people are waiting for truth and accountability. Victims’ families and their supporters are also ready to resume protests if the investigation is not completed and an indictment is not issued.
The investigation into the Beirut port explosion, despite major delays caused by political obstruction, Hezbollah and the defendants will, I am sure, lead to the truth. Every official or civilian who was required to preserve the security of the citizens and did not do so, will be held accountable. If these people had done their duty, the storm resulting from the nitrate explosion would not have swept through the city, destroyed homes and roads, and killed people in this catastrophic way.
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More from Neighbourhood Watch
Without Remorse
Directed by: Stefano Sollima
Starring: Michael B Jordan
4/5
Three-day coronation
Royal purification
The entire coronation ceremony extends over three days from May 4-6, but Saturday is the one to watch. At the time of 10:09am the royal purification ceremony begins. Wearing a white robe, the king will enter a pavilion at the Grand Palace, where he will be doused in sacred water from five rivers and four ponds in Thailand. In the distant past water was collected from specific rivers in India, reflecting the influential blend of Hindu and Buddhist cosmology on the coronation. Hindu Brahmins and the country's most senior Buddhist monks will be present. Coronation practices can be traced back thousands of years to ancient India.
The crown
Not long after royal purification rites, the king proceeds to the Baisal Daksin Throne Hall where he receives sacred water from eight directions. Symbolically that means he has received legitimacy from all directions of the kingdom. He ascends the Bhadrapitha Throne, where in regal robes he sits under a Nine-Tiered Umbrella of State. Brahmins will hand the monarch the royal regalia, including a wooden sceptre inlaid with gold, a precious stone-encrusted sword believed to have been found in a lake in northern Cambodia, slippers, and a whisk made from yak's hair.
The Great Crown of Victory is the centrepiece. Tiered, gold and weighing 7.3 kilograms, it has a diamond from India at the top. Vajiralongkorn will personally place the crown on his own head and then issues his first royal command.
The audience
On Saturday afternoon, the newly-crowned king is set to grant a "grand audience" to members of the royal family, the privy council, the cabinet and senior officials. Two hours later the king will visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred space in Thailand, which on normal days is thronged with tourists. He then symbolically moves into the Royal Residence.
The procession
The main element of Sunday's ceremonies, streets across Bangkok's historic heart have been blocked off in preparation for this moment. The king will sit on a royal palanquin carried by soldiers dressed in colourful traditional garb. A 21-gun salute will start the procession. Some 200,000 people are expected to line the seven-kilometre route around the city.
Meet the people
On the last day of the ceremony Rama X will appear on the balcony of Suddhaisavarya Prasad Hall in the Grand Palace at 4:30pm "to receive the good wishes of the people". An hour later, diplomats will be given an audience at the Grand Palace. This is the only time during the ceremony that representatives of foreign governments will greet the king.
Other key dates
-
Finals draw: December 2
-
Finals (including semi-finals and third-placed game): June 5–9, 2019
-
Euro 2020 play-off draw: November 22, 2019
-
Euro 2020 play-offs: March 26–31, 2020
FINAL LEADERBOARD
1. Jordan Spieth (USA) 65 69 65 69 - 12-under-par
2. Matt Kuchar (USA) 65 71 66 69 - 9-under
3. Li Haotong (CHN) 69 73 69 63 - 6-under
T4. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 71 68 69 67 - 5-under
T4. Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP) 67 73 67 68 - 5-under
T6. Marc Leishman (AUS) 69 76 66 65 - 4-under
T6. Matthew Southgate (ENG) 72 72 67 65 - 4-under
T6. Brooks Koepka (USA) 65 72 68 71 - 4-under
T6. Branden Grace (RSA) 70 74 62 70 - 4-under
T6. Alexander Noren (SWE) 68 72 69 67 - 4-under
Scoreline
Arsenal 0 Manchester City 3
- Agüero 18'
- Kompany 58'
- Silva 65'
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Major honours
ARSENAL
BARCELONA
- La Liga - 2013
- Copa del Rey - 2012
- Fifa Club World Cup - 2011
CHELSEA
- Premier League - 2015, 2017
- FA Cup - 2018
- League Cup - 2015
SPAIN
- World Cup - 2010
- European Championship - 2008, 2012
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
Zombieland: Double Tap
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Stars: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone
Four out of five stars
RESULTS
1.45pm: Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winners: Hyde Park, Royston Ffrench (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)
2.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Shamikh, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
2.45pm: Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Hurry Up, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3.15pm: Shadwell Jebel Ali Mile Group 3 (TB) Dh575,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Blown by Wind, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
3.45pm: Handicap (TB) Dh72,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Mazagran, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
4.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh64,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner: Obeyaan, Adrie de Vries, Mujeeb Rehman
4.45pm: Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Shanaghai City, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
Green ambitions
- Trees: 1,500 to be planted, replacing 300 felled ones, with veteran oaks protected
- Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
- Biodiversity: Bat cave to be added and habitats designed for kingfishers and little grebes
- Flood risk: Longer grass, deeper lake, restored ponds and absorbent paths all meant to siphon off water
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Golden Shoe top five (as of March 1):
Harry Kane, Tottenham, Premier League, 24 goals, 48 points
Edinson Cavani, PSG, Ligue 1, 24 goals, 48 points
Ciro Immobile, Lazio, Serie A, 23 goals, 46 points
Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, Premier League, 23 goals, 46 points
Lionel Messi, Barcelona, La Liga, 22 goals, 44 points
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