Bravo to the Lebanese Higher Judicial Council for not intending to disccuss Judge Tarek Bitar removal (https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/285057-report-higher-judicial-council-doesn-t-intend-to-discuss-bitar-removal).
Bambi is saying so because the intimidation by the most powerful group in Lebanon (mafia ruling it) has reached exponential, and even dangerous, levels lately.
According to France24, “the man handling the biggest case since former prime minister Rafik Hariri’s 2005 assassination is a little known figure who never talks to the press or even appears in public... “His determination will be tested more than ever after a [demonstration] for his removal Thursday by supporters of the Shiite Muslim Amal and Hezbollah movements degenerated into deadly violence and scenes resminiscent of the 1975-1990 civil war” (https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211014-tarek-bitar-lebanon-s-judge-with-a-grudge).
As a reminder, at these heavily armed yet so-called “peaceful” demonstrations mentioned above, we have seen images of demonstrators burning posters of this Judge. Same for the US Ambassador in Beirut, Ms. Dorothy Shea (without hearing the classical mantra of “death to America” though…).
Anyhow, to come back specifically to Judge Bitar, just check the words used by the two journalists, Ms. Sarah El Deeb and Mr. Bassam Mroue from the Associated Press, to describe Judge Tarek Bitar’s decency in an article entitled “The judge leading Beirut blast probe: Discreet and defiant” (https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-religion-explosions-lebanon-beirut-2c813a38a3ab2789f07fa48799aac82a):
“Relatives of victims of the port blast described Bitar as deeply sympathetic to their quest for justice. One man said the judge told him he approached the case as if his own daughter had been killed.”
“Bezdjian said Bitar told the families that he feels a responsibility because of those killed, wounded and displaced and because “half of my capital was destroyed.”
If you were one of the families who lost your loved one in the blast, wouldn’t you also want to know that your case is in the caring hands of Judge Bitar?
