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The Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai
Photo: Handout.
/ via REUTERS
After the firefight during a demonstration in Beirut with a total of seven dead, the country's highest Christian dignitary has called for peacefulness and respect for the judiciary. "We must free the judiciary from political interference and sectarian activism and respect their independence according to the principles of separation of powers," said the Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai in his Sunday sermon. Violence or threats are not an option in a democracy.
The background to this are disputes over the clarification of the devastating explosion in the port of Beirut in August 2020 with more than 200 dead and thousands injured. During a demonstration against Judge Tarek Bitar, who was in charge of the investigation, snipers shot people on Thursday. There was also a firefight between supporters of the rally organized by the Shiite movements Hezbollah and Amal and the snipers. However, the exact background to the outbreak of violence is unclear.
Lebanon's Defense Minister Maurice Selim announced on Saturday that mass panic and clashes along the demonstration route on the border between a Christian and a Shiite neighborhood had resulted in shots on both sides.
Only then did the hitherto unknown snipers open fire.
A Hezbollah representative, Hassan Fadallah, called for the fatal clash to be investigated on Sunday.
"Whoever planned and carried out the attack must be held accountable all the way to the top," said Fadallah on the pro-Iranian TV channel al Mayadeen.
Like the Amal movement, Hezbollah is demanding the dismissal of Judge Tarek Bitar, a Christian.
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah called the chief investigator biased and partisan.
The two Shiite movements blame the Lebanese forces, a Christian movement, for the deadly unrest on Thursday.
However, this rejects the allegations.
The interference of the Maronite patriarch Rai is now said to have a de-escalating effect.
As the religious leader of the largest Christian community in the country, he has great influence;
As a legacy of French colonial rule, the Lebanese government must involve all denominations represented in the country.
The largest religious communities include Shiites, Sunnis, Maronites and other Christian communities, as well as Druze.
"The doubts about the integrity of the judiciary, which have been growing for some time, are undermining not only the legal system, but also the reputation of Lebanon," Rai said to his quarreled compatriots.
Löw / Reuters / AP
