Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Friday, June 20, 2025
    961
    Instagram Facebook LinkedIn TikTok
    • Breaking News
    • Guides
    • Food & Drink
    • Listicles
    • Join the Team
    • Whatsapp
      • 961
      • 961 News
    • AUB Outdoors ☀️
    Advertise with Us Get the App
    961
    Home»News»Lebanon News
    @salmanonline | @anews
    2 Mins Read

    In Light Of Judge Sawan’s Removal, Enraged Families Of Beirut Blast Victims Take To The Streets

    By Souad LazkaniFebruary 18, 2021Updated:February 18, 2021
    Facebook WhatsApp Copy Link

    The families and friends of Beirut blast victims have taken down to the street full of rage to protest the abrupt decision to remove Judge Fadi Sawan from the Beirut Port explosion investigation.

    After over 6 months since the blast, the Criminal Court of Cassation headed by Judge Jamal Al-Hajjar decided to transfer the case from Judge Sawan to another judge.

    Ok so they just removed Judge Fadi Sawan, the person leading the Beirut Port explosion investigation.

    You know what this means? We’re back to to square one. No more investigation, no criminal justice, no accountability, no nothing. #انفجار_مرفأ_بيروت

    — Ghida Houmani (@GhidaHoumani) February 18, 2021

    The excuse for his removal was that his home in Achrafieh was partially damaged by the blast, making him too close to the case.

    However, the real reason as the public knows it is that Judge Sawan had pledged to get to the bottom of this tragic case, stopping at “no red lines.”

    Judge Sawan was investigating politicians, including the caretaker prime minister and former ministers, which propelled the officials to intervene, hindering his mission to dig out the truth and bring those responsible to justice.

    “I don’t want my daughter in heaven to think she died and no one did anything. I want her to know we are fighting for her and all the victims,” said Mona, mother of Rawan Misto, who died in the blast.
    “My daughter was taken away so suddenly, can’t I know what happened?”

    — Nader Durgham | نادر درغام (@NaderDurgham) February 18, 2021

    To add to the outrageous move, Lebanon’s public prosecutor was asked to release two officials who he had charged in August: Head of Beirut Port Authority Hassan Kraytem and Head of Safety and Security at the port Mohammad Ziad Al-Awf.

    Broken, grieving, hopeless, and rightfully infuriated, the victims’ family members who have been waiting for closure, are back to the streets in protest.

    "انا زلمي انكسرت"!! كم مرة بدكن تقتلونا#انفجار_مرفأ_بيروت #لبنان_ينتفض pic.twitter.com/KdEoFwdmCf

    — Lebanon News (@lebanonlens) February 18, 2021

    Six months through and those in power haven’t given them any answers to why their loved ones had to suffer such tragic deaths.

    People of all religious sects and social classes gathered at Beirut’s Justice Palace to express their frustration.

    سامحونا… #انفجار_مرفأ_بيروت
    pic.twitter.com/1RoSpBlcSe

    — Salman Andary (@salmanonline) February 18, 2021

    “We’re not against anyone, we just want justice and truth,” called a mother, who lost her son. “There will be new martyr every day, today from my house and tomorrow from yours!”

    “There will be new martyr every day, today from my house and tomorrow from yours,” unless people come to the streets and remove Lebanon’s rotten ruling regime. pic.twitter.com/xG0315rQgJ

    — Timour Azhari (@timourazhari) February 18, 2021

    On Twitter, the hashtag “justice needs an international investigation” began trending, reflecting people’s distrust of Lebanon’s judicial system, which was now further confirmed with the removal of Judge Sawan.

    "شوفوا العكا*** لوين وصلونا"… #انفجار_مرفأ_بيروت pic.twitter.com/FUvKinwAvx

    — Salman Andary (@salmanonline) February 18, 2021

    Many voices from within the families of the victims expressed that they will resort to more extreme measures, including closing roads and burning tires in protest.

    Beirut Blast Probe Beirut Explosion Lebanese Revolution (Thawra)
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email

    For You

    uae travel ban lebanon 961

    UAE Is Officially Removing The Travel Ban On Lebanon

    Joe Issa El-Khoury 961

    Who is Joe Issa El-Khoury, Lebanon’s New Minister of Industry

    Adel Nassar 961

    Who is Adel Nassar, Lebanon’s New Minister of Justice

    Nizar Hani 961

    Who is Nizar Hani, Lebanon’s New Minister of Agriculture

    Charles Hajj 961

    Who Is Charles Hajj, Lebanon’s New Minister of Telecommunications

    Nora Bayrakdarian 961

    Who is Nora Bayrakdarian, Lebanon’s New Minister of Youth and Sports

    Low-Cost Lebanese Airline 961

    We Might Finally Be Getting A Low-Cost Lebanese Airline – Here’s What We Know

    lebanon jounieh cyprus by ferry 961

    You’ll Soon Be Able To Travel Between Lebanon & Cyprus By Ferry

    June 8, 2025
    whish pay lebanon 961

    You Can Now Use Whish Pay At Shopify Stores

    June 13, 2025
    Michel Hayek

    Michel Hayek 2025: Predictions For The World

    December 31, 2024
    lebanon cybergames 2025 hacking 961

    Lebanon Just Won A Global Hacking Competition

    June 10, 2025
    Michel Hayek

    Michel Hayek 2025: Predictions For Lebanon

    December 31, 2024

    20 Celebrities You Probably Didn’t Know Had Lebanese Roots

    April 22, 2019
    Michel Hayek

    Michel Hayek 2025: Predictions For The Middle East

    December 31, 2024
    lebanese beer brands almaza beirut beer 961

    Lebanese Beer Brands Are Publicly Throwing Shade, And It’s Getting Frothy

    June 7, 2025

    Ampere Cinema Reopens Its Doors In North Lebanon After 28 Years Of Absence

    June 30, 2022
    961 Logo
    Facebook WhatsApp TikTok Instagram

    Popular Topics

    • Guides
    • Eat & Drink
    • Listicles
    • Lebanon News
    • Diaspora
    • Explained

    961

    • About
    • WhatsApp Channel
    • News WhatsApp Channel
    • Corrections Policy
    • Ownership & Funding

    Services

    • Advertise
    • Careers
    • App Waitlist
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletter
    961™ | All Rights Reserved ©2025
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Okay