Collective Action
Families of Beirut blast victims stage a sit-in outside the house of Finance Minister Youssef Khalil to protest delay in the probe
Dozens of protesters gathered in front of Finance Minister Youssef Khalil’s residence in Raouche Saturday to protest his “interference” in the August 4, 2020 Beirut port blast investigation and to object to the delay in the port blast investigation. Protesters spoke out against the delay in the appointment of judges to the Court of Cassation, holding Khalil responsible because he has yet to sign an appointment letter, which they say has been on his desk for weeks. The Court of Cassation has been unable to rule on complaints filed against the blast investigation head Judge Tarek Bitar, as two retired judges have not been replaced. Later in the day, Khalil issued a statement saying that the delay in the paperwork was due to errors that would “create precedents the country does not need” and that efforts were being made to resolve them. He did not specify what those errors were.