Naharnet

Hoteit-Led Delegation Meets Justice Minister over Port Case

A delegation from the families of the Beirut port blast victims on Wednesday visited Justice Minister Henri Khoury and handed him a letter that was referred, at their request, to the Higher Judicial Council.

The delegation was led by Ibrahim Hoteit, a former spokesman of the grouping of families who recently appeared in a surprising video in which he made a U-turn in his stance on lead investigator Judge Tarek Bitar. The majority of families distanced themselves from Hoteit’s new stance and said the video was likely recorded under duress.

William Noun, an outspoken member of the families grouping, said Hoteit “only represents himself and two other families.”

In a statement on behalf of the families, Noun added that Hoteit “has no right to act or speak on our behalf.”

“The families of the port martyrs and victims stress their insistence on supporting the judiciary and Judge Tarek Bitar,” Noun said.

Pro-Hizbullah journalist Salem Zahran meanwhile said that the Hoteit-led delegation handed Khoury a letter demanding “the removal of Judge Tarek Bitar from the case” and that the letter was “referred to the Higher Judicial Council.”

Source: Naharnet


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