Tarek Bitar (Arabic: طارق بيطار, Akkar, born 1974[1]) is a Lebanese judge and the head of Beirut’s criminal court,[2][1] who is the second judge to lead the investigation of the 2020 Beirut Port explosion, succeeding Fadi Sawwan[2][1] who was dismissed by the Lebanese court after charging two former Amal Party[3] ministers over the blast, which was caused by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate negligently stored in the port for over six years.[2] Sawwan's dismissal was objected to by the victims’ families because they feared that it would take the case back to zero.[2][4] In September 2021, Bitar received a threat by Hezbollah.[5][6]
Bitar is described as having no bias or affiliations to any political party.[2][4]
On 14 October 2021, protests were instigated by the Shiite groups of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement,[7] rebuffed by the Lebanese Army, outside the Justice Palace in Eastern Beirut, demanding an end to Bitar's judgeship, accusing him of political bias and incompetence.[8][9][10] Hezbollah partisans have claimed that Lebanese Forces supporters were present, though this is unconfirmed.[11] Clashes erupted between the militants leaving six protesters and one civilian dead
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