By Alyxandra Stanczak
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
BERUIT, Lebanon – Rafik Hariri, former Prime Minister of Lebanon, was assassinated when his motorcade was hit by a suicide bomber in 2005. After the incident, four pro-Syrian officers were detained and held without charges. In 2009, the officers were released due to lack of evidence. Among the officers was ex-Lebanese general Jamil al-Sayyed. Al-Sayyed brought a case in Syrian courts against people he believed misled the investigation of Hariri’s assassination which resulted in his four-year imprisonment.
Al-Sayyed is a Shiite ex-Lebanese general who is backed by Hezbollah. Although a primarily Lebanese group, Hezbollah receives a lot of support from Syria and Iran.
This past Sunday, a Syrian judge issued arrest warrants for thirty-three people of interest in the case who have been ignoring court summons. Al-Sayyed brought the suit in Syria, citing distrust in Lebanon’s judiciary. It is unlikely that the arrest warrants will be executed outside of Syria.
Among those issued arrest warrants are senior Lebanese judges and international officials.
When the initial investigation of the suicide bombing occurred, western-backed parties in Lebanon believed that Syria and Hezbollah were responsible for the attack. This claim was denied by both parties. The allegation has since been denied by Saad Hariri, current Lebanese Prime Minister and son of Rafik Hariri. Saad Hariri was quoted as saying the allegation arose from political motivations.
Al-Sayyed maintains he brought the case, of which the issuance of arrest warrants was necessary, because at least six of the defendants in his case are Syrian. Additionally, he maintains the Lebanese judiciary as well as the U.N. backed tribunal, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, refused to look at his case of false witnesses.
For more information, please see:
Daily Star – Syria’s warrants add to the chaos – 5 October 2010
People’s Daily Online – Lebanese PM says Syria’s arrest warrants over Hariri’s killing disappointing – 5 October 2010
Al Jazeera – Syria orders arrests in Hariri case – 4 October 2010
Jerusalem Post – Lawyer: Syria posts arrests warrants in Hariri case – 4 October 2010
Associated Press – Syria posts arrests warrants in Hariri case – 3 October 2010
