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    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
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    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)
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