Rifi on STL Lawsuit Summoning Lebanese Journalists: I Cannot but Implement the Law

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi confirmed on Saturday that his commitment to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon's request in the case of Al-Jadeed TV's Karma al-Khayat and al-Akhbar daily's Ibrahim al-Amin was not discussed at the cabinet session, stressing that he has no choice but to implement the law.

The Minister told al-Liwaa daily that his commitment to the STL's request was not “discussed during Friday's cabinet session nor was it brought up by any of the ministers.”

He stressed that his post as Justice Minister obliges him to abide by the decisions of the judicial authority and that he has no choice but to implement the law.

“I support justice and law and I will stay loyal to my martyrs,” he said in reference to slain former PM Rafik Hairri and officials, who were killed in a series of bombings.

Rifi had stressed earlier that “if the Special Tribunal for Lebanon asks me to arrest al-Akhbar newspaper editor-in-chief Ibrahim al-Amin and Deputy News and Political Program Manager at Al-Jadeed TV, Karma Khayat, I will do it without hesitation.”

In April, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon summoned the two journalists to appear before the court on charges of “contempt and obstruction of justice.”

In April last year, a list of 167 names of so-called witnesses for the Hariri trial was published by a previously unknown group identified as "Journalists for the Truth."

The group said it wanted to "unveil the corruption" of the STL.

Both al-Akhbar and al-Jadeed published the list.

The accused are being charged under Rule 60 bis (A) of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence and all the charges relate to the case of the five Hizbullah members, who have been indicted in Hariri's assassination.

D.A.

G.K.

Comments 6
Missing _karim 10 May 2014, 10:13

lol.

Default-user-icon karimchimp (Guest) 10 May 2014, 11:09

karim...you are a living proof of darwinism

Default-user-icon hanoun (Guest) 10 May 2014, 11:43

and disobeying orders from your superiors minister baroud and the president of the republic deserve a martial court for you Mr RIFI so start by yourself to lead by example

Thumb FlameCatcher 10 May 2014, 14:29

Southern, what you don't understand is that whether it's the STL or a Lebanese court, they are both guilty of the same charges and should face the consequences.

You wouldn't whine like a little girl if Lebanese courts ordered this.

Talking about Lebanese court, you have suspects including Butros Harb's killer and Eid that are wanted by the courts.

If you don't deliver, then abstain from any comments regarding the justice system which by the way you approved (STL).

Thumb -phoenix1 10 May 2014, 14:30

Karim, I am about to start my weekend and here I saw your post. Karim, I cannot but wonder at this, if Rifi has to arrest himself, very well then, since you seem to be talking of every single Lebanese having to be under the law, right so far? If yes, then allow me to continue. Hence then I fear that almost every single Lebanese politician with the notable exception of a very few only, will need to be arrested. Among the list of those that should be arrested should be those who take us to war with Israel, with Syria or make us meddle into the politics of several other countries too. So Karim, what says ye?

Thumb -phoenix1 10 May 2014, 20:26

Ya 7aram, so predicatable this Ibinwalidjumblat and his babies, no sooner than a camel passes would the flies follow. Yalla ya Alfinik, balech bil akel abel maye ro7 matra7ak....BBBBZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz.....