Families of Beirut Blast Victims Spokesman Urges Bitar to Step Down
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The spokesman to the families of the Beirut Blast victims called on the judge investigating the crime to step down due to his politicization of the investigation.
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The spokesman to the families of the Beirut Blast victims Ibrahim Hoteit.
Judge Tarek Bitar, the judicial investigator probing into the Beirut Blast, has been facing accusations of politicizing the case. Ibrahim Hoteit, the spokesman of the families of victims of the Beirut Blast, has called on Bitar to step down due to said accusations.
In a social media video, Hoteit reflected on what has been happening in the investigation throughout the past year. He deplored politicization and his refusal to reveal the identity of the party that brought the ammonium nitrate into the Beirut port.
المتحدث بإسم أهالي ضحايا #انفجار_مرفأ_بيروت #إبراهيم_حطيط يدعو القاضي #طارق_البيطار إلى التنحي ويدين التدخل الاميركي السافر
— fadi jouni (@fady_jouni) October 16, 2021
الشهادة تصنع الوعي وجعجع فضح المؤامرة pic.twitter.com/XdlOvCcMmi
Social media users circulated past videos in which Hoteit was with the families of the Beirut Blast victims. The spokesman was denouncing the politicization of the case, standing in the face of those aiming to do so.
As a result of the public uproar against Bitar's politicization of the case, the Supreme Judicial Council will hold a session on Tuesday with judge Bitar to hear his opinion on the course of the investigation into the blast, said Lebanese media.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati met with Justice Minister Henry Khoury, the head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Souheil Aboud, and Discriminatory Public Prosecutor judge, Ghassan Ouweidat, in the latter's office on Saturday.
The three parties discussed the ambush that took place in Tayouneh on Thursday. They also stressed the necessity of expediting the ongoing investigations into the ambush that left seven civilians martyred and dozens wounded.
The officials want the state apparatuses to reveal information regarding the Tayouneh ambush and bring those involved to justice.
"The complete file of the incident is in the hands of the security services and under judiciary supervision," said PM Mikati during the meeting.
He underscored that the government is ensuring that no meddling occurs in any judiciary files, urging the judiciary to take all measures it deems necessary.
The kin of several martyrs held their funerals Friday, and Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that bitterness and sadness prevailed in Chiyah due to the treacherous ambush.
The ambush saw snipers shooting unarmed peaceful demonstrators from rooftops in Tayouneh. The demonstrators took to the streets to protest against the politicization of the Beirut Blast investigation.
The Lebanese national army reported arresting 19 suspects. Several suspects arrested by the army admitted to preparing for the ambush beforehand. Amal Movement and Hezbollah have been accusing the Lebanese Forces party of being behind the crime that took several lives.
