Beirut, June 27, 2025 – The Lebanese Center for Human Rights organized a roundtable entitled "Challenges to Judicial Independence in Light of the Port Explosion and the Absence of Accountability," with the participation of MP Halima Kaakour, Judge Joseph Tamer representing the Ministry of Justice, former head of the Tripoli Bar Association Mr. Mohammad Murad, and the Center’s President Wadih Al-Asmar.
The meeting addressed the main challenges and obstacles faced by judges in carrying out their duties and explored possible ways and mechanisms to enhance the independence of the judiciary in Lebanon.
Mr. Murad opened the session by clarifying the objectives and main frameworks of the meeting, emphasizing the importance of linking the issue of judicial independence to the judicial investigations into the Beirut Port explosion. He also explained the significance of enacting the Judicial Independence Law, a long-standing demand of the Center, many judges, lawyers, and NGOs in Lebanon since 1951. He added that achieving justice in the Port explosion case, as in all human rights cases in Lebanon, begins with ensuring the independence of judicial investigations.
In the first part of the meeting, the President of the Lebanese Center for Human Rights presented a position paper prepared by the Center that addressed the issue of judicial independence, using the Beirut Port explosion as an example of the extent of political interference and the ongoing absence of accountability to this day, including the legal challenges faced by the victims of the explosion. He stressed the importance of addressing judicial independence to guarantee citizens’ rights through a fair and equitable judiciary, which contributes to protecting social and civil peace.
He considered the obstruction of the investigation into the Port explosion a double crime, as it deprived the victims of their right to claim their criminal and civil rights and created a rift in society due to the lack of judicial independence.
Judge Joseph Tamer reviewed in his intervention the main challenges facing the judiciary in Lebanon, starting from the principle that justice must not only be administered but must also be seen to be administered. He pointed out that even apparent bias could undermine confidence in judicial integrity. He emphasized that a judge’s responsibility is not limited to integrity but also includes demonstrating it through their conduct.
He highlighted the lack of adequate training to keep pace with technological developments and the increase in digital-related cases, amid weak capabilities, infrastructure, and absence of digital transformation. He also touched on the political and financial obstacles restricting the judiciary’s work, including interference by the legislative and executive authorities, delays in judicial appointments for years, and the lack of financial independence, noting that the Ministry of Justice’s budget does not exceed 0.5% of the general budget.
He pointed out the severe shortage of human and material resources, the deterioration of building conditions, leaving judges unprotected against threats amid weak disciplinary measures, and the legislative vacuum that burdens judges with extensive interpretation in sensitive cases, such as the banking file and the Port explosion crime. Additionally, he mentioned media pressures that have harmed the judiciary’s reputation and low salaries that have driven many competent judges to leave the judiciary.
He concluded his intervention by calling for effective mechanisms to discipline and hold judges accountable, ensuring their freedom of organization and expression, affirming that “the judiciary is the adornment and jewel of the state, through which rights are preserved and freedoms protected”.
Finally, MP Halima Kaakour outlined the historical milestones of the Judicial Independence Law and its compatibility with the Venice Commission’s recommendations. She also emphasized the need to raise societal awareness about judicial independence, so it is not limited to those working within the judiciary but expands to become a widely discussed topic in public opinion, as it directly affects everyone’s lives.
Kaakour continued by addressing the dangers of political patronage and sectarian distribution within the Supreme Judicial Council, which hinder the proper functioning of the judiciary and obstruct its independence. She added that the possibility of including members from outside the judiciary in the council could enhance its work and independence.
She also spoke about the risks of fragmenting the public sector by granting one public institution more allocations and privileges than others, instead of ensuring equality among employees of public institutions.
The meeting concluded with a Q&A session and an open discussion with attendees, including human rights activists, journalists, and lawyers, focusing on the port investigations and judicial work in Lebanon.
For media inquiries, please contact:
comm@cldh-lebanon.org
+961 1 886 676
About the Lebanese Center for Human Rights:
The Lebanese Center for Human Rights (CLDH) is a local, non-profit, and non-political Lebanese organization established in Beirut in 2006. It is an offshoot of the French-Lebanese Association – SOLIDA (Support for Arbitrarily Detained Lebanese), active since 1996 in combating arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, impunity, and grave human rights violations. The Center’s work includes advocacy, rehabilitation of torture victims and families of forcibly disappeared persons, providing free legal services to vulnerable groups regardless of nationality, and capacity building in the field of human rights.
www.cldh-lebanon.org
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