BEIRUT: Even after she was taken off an investigation into alleged financial crimes by a money transfer company, the defiant Lebanese prosecutor charged ahead.
Ghada Aoun showed up at the company’s offices outside of Beirut with a group of supporters and a metal worker, who broke open the locked gate.
She obtained data from Mecattaf Holding Company that she contends will reveal the identities of people who sneaked billions of dollars out of Lebanon amid the financial meltdown that has hit the country.
The move was part of a public feud between Aoun and Lebanon’s state prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat, who had dismissed her from the case, saying she’d overstepped with two earlier raids.
Their feud has turned into scuffles between their supporters in the street.
Aoun, an investigating judge for the Mount Lebanon district, presents herself as a crusader against corruption and accuses higher-ups of trying to stop her.
But to her critics, she’s a tool of her backer, Lebanon’s president, who they say uses her to punish his political opponents and protect his allies.
That is the problem in Lebanon: The judiciary is so deeply politicized it paralyzes the wheels of justice, mirroring how factional rivalries have paralyzed politics.
Political interference in the judiciary has for years thwarted investigations into corruption, violence and assassinations. But mistrust of the judiciary is thrown into even starker relief now, when Lebanese are crying out for politicians to be held accountable for the disastrous crises in their country — not only the financial collapse but also last August’s massive explosion in Beirut’s port that killed scores and wrecked much of the capital. The explosion has been blamed on incompetence and neglect.
Lebanon’s political posts are split up in a power-sharing system among sectarian-based factions. Judicial appointments are subject to the same sectarian allotment and horse-trading.
Ghada Aoun is a Maronite Christian, like the country’s president, Michel Aoun, and her supporters are mainly members of the president’s Free Patriotic Movement. The two are not related. The state prosecutor, Oueidat, is a Sunni Muslim, like the prime minister-designate, Saad Hariri. The country’s top financial prosecutor is a Shiite Muslim, chosen by the country’s top Shiite factions, Amal and Hezbollah. Positions all through the judicial hierarchy are similarly divvied up.
“Those who hold on to power have set up a judiciary that is loyal to them in order to fight their opponents and protect their interests,” retired state prosecutor Hatem Madi told The Associated Press.
President Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Hariri have been locked in a power struggle that has prevented the formation of a Cabinet for more than six months. As a result, there is no leadership to carry out reforms to rescue the country even as the currency collapses in value.
Lebanese watched in fury as their own savings and salaries plummet in value and prices skyrocket. The central bank is struggling to gather enough hard currency to ensure fuel for electricity or other key imports, much less maintain its longtime peg of the currency to the dollar.
Even more galling for the public, the wealthy and politically connected transferred billions of dollars to safety outside Lebanon even after banks imposed informal capital controls at the beginning of the crisis. Most people have been unable to access their dollars in bank accounts since late 2019.
Ghada Aoun, the judge, was probing Mecattaf Holding on suspicion it helped in that flight of capital. Mecattaf, one of Lebanon’s largest money and gold-trading companies, denied any links to suspicious transfers, saying all business it does is legal.
Skeptics note that Mecattaf’s owner, Michel Mecattaf, is the publisher of Nidaa Al-Watan, a daily newspaper that is harshly critical of President Aoun and his main ally, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
Ghada Aoun has also pursued cases against Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh and former Prime Minister Najib Mikati, both of them opponents of the president.
In tweets, Aoun said she was being sidelined “because I dared to open a major file and tried to establish the truth with evidence.” She accuses her opponents of using “false accusations” against her to “politicize a case of justice, a case where an oppressed people wants accountability.”
After her previous raids, Ouiedat ordered her taken off financial cases. Then on April 20, both he and Aoun appeared at a session of Lebanon’s top judicial body, where they upheld the order. Outside, supporters of the president and the prime minister got into scuffles and nearly into fist-fights before the army separated them. The next day, she carried out her third raid on the company.
Sami Kara, a Hariri supporter, said Aoun ruined her long reputation by breaking into the company. “She was used for political purposes and now they threw her away,” said the 61-year-old shop owner.
Lebanese are also closely watching the investigation into the Aug. 4 explosion of nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrates poorly stored at Beirut’s port. The explosion killed 211, wounded more than 6,000 and devastated nearby neighborhoods.
The first investigating judge accused two former Cabinet ministers of negligence, but was then removed from the case after the former ministers raised legal challenges against him. Many worry his replacement, Judge Tarek Bitar, will be prevented by politicians from holding anyone accountable for the blast.
Judges know that if they want senior posts, they must be loyal to a political leader, said Bushra Al-Khalil, a prominent Lebanese lawyer.
Knowing this, some people go straight to politicians and ask for their help in cases, rather than go through judicial authorities, she said. Others hire a lawyer with strong political connections to intimidate judges.
Madi said the long-term solution is for the judiciary to be given independence under the constitution. Currently, it comes under the authority of the government.
Lebanon “is proving incapable of fighting corruption,” said outgoing Justice Minister Marie-Claude Najm, pointing to the divisions demonstrated in the feud between Aoun and Ouiedat.
“After all that has happened,” she said, “how can people feel they respect and trust the judiciary?”
As Lebanese cry for justice, politics paralyzes the system
https://arab.news/jcc84
As Lebanese cry for justice, politics paralyzes the system
- Judge Ghada Aoun presents herself as a crusader against corruption and accuses higher-ups of trying to stop her
- Political interference in the judiciary has for years thwarted investigations into corruption, violence and assassinations
Ramadan lanterns: A symbol of celebration
CAIRO: Muslims around the world are observing Ramadan, a month of dawn-to-dusk fasting, intense prayer and charity.
The holy month has long been associated with a rich tapestry of customs and traditions that define its unique celebrations.
Among the most prominent symbols of these festivities is the Ramadan lantern, a cherished emblem that illuminates streets and homes, reflecting the spiritual and cultural essence of the season.
In the historic districts of Cairo — such as Al-Hussein, Al-Azhar and Sayyida Zeinab — millions of Egyptians gather to celebrate Ramadan.
These neighborhoods are transformed into vibrant scenes of light and color, adorned with elaborate illuminations and countless Ramadan lanterns that hang across streets and balconies.
Vendors line the bustling alleys, offering a wide array of goods associated with the sacred month.
Foremost among these cherished items is the Ramadan lantern, which remains the most iconic and sought-after symbol of the season, embodying both tradition and festivity.
The lantern, in its earliest form, served as a vital source of illumination in ancient times.
Initially, torches crafted from wood and fueled with oils were used to light homes and pathways.
During the Middle Ages, Egyptians advanced their methods of lighting, developing oil lamps and decorative lanterns. In the Mamluk era, streets were illuminated on a wider scale, and artisans excelled in architectural innovation, producing intricately designed lanterns adorned with refined artistic motifs.
Gamal Shaqra, professor of modern history, told Arab News: “The story of the Ramadan lantern is widely traced back to the Fatimid era, with several narratives surrounding its origin. One account links it to Jawhar Al-Siqilli, the general who founded Cairo and built Al-Azhar Mosque, and to the arrival of Caliph Al-Muizz li-Din Allah in 969 A.D.
“According to this, Egyptians welcomed the Fatimid caliph by carrying lanterns to light his path, using them as both illumination and a gesture of celebration.”
He added: “Following this historic scene, lanterns began to be used to light streets and public spaces. Over time, the lantern evolved into a defining symbol of Ramadan festivities, as children took to the streets carrying their brightly lit lanterns and chanting traditional songs celebrating the holy month.
“The tradition continued to flourish during the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods, with lantern designs becoming increasingly diverse. In the era of Mohammad Ali, the craft saw further development, as lanterns were manufactured from metal sheets and fitted with colored glass, marking a significant evolution in both design and production.”
Methods of manufacturing the Ramadan lantern have diversified over time, alongside the evolution of its artistic designs in the modern era.
With the advancement of tools and technology, merchants have increasingly introduced wooden lanterns crafted using laser-cut techniques, offering intricate patterns and contemporary styles.
Despite these innovations, handcrafted lanterns continue to retain their distinctive value and authenticity. Made by skilled artisans, these traditional pieces remain deeply cherished, preserving the spirit of heritage and craftsmanship associated with the holy month.
Artist Mohamed Abla told Arab News that the design of the Ramadan lantern was inspired by the form of the mishkat — the ornate niche found in mosques that embodies Islamic art and traditionally serves as a source of illumination.
He added that the lantern had long been a subject for visual artists, who had depicted it in their paintings as a symbol of folk heritage and the enduring traditions associated with celebrating the holy month.
During a tour of popular marketplaces, a clear variation in lantern prices was noted, reflecting the craftsmanship and effort invested in their production.
In the tourist markets along Al-Moeaz Street, brass and bronze lanterns are prominently displayed in antique shops, showcasing elaborate designs that appeal to both visitors and collectors seeking traditional Ramadan decor.
