The red digital display that initially counted the days that had passed since his assassination only went up to , an indicator that Hariri supporters never thought justice would be slow. It has four digits. The difficult thing is that we experience living those moments again. Underscoring the political sensitivities, Ms Fayad, Ms Bou Raad and another victim who spoke with The National refused to even name those indicted, let alone speculate about their culpability.
The case has provided no shortage of intrigue, particularly a number of assassinations and deaths in the years since that many suspect are linked to the investigation. They include Mustafa Amine Badreddine, one of the five defendants, who was killed last year in Syria by an explosion near Damascus airport. Though the Israeli government had previously attempted to assassinate Badreddine, Israeli general Gadi Eisenkot suggested earlier this year that Hizbollah officials ordered his death because he had been called to testify before the tribunal.
Wissam Eid, a Lebanese police officer who first uncovered clusters of mobile phones that linked the defendants to the assassination, was killed by a bomb along with a bodyguard in The tribunal has yet to issue any indictments in those cases. Though the divisions the trial created have faded into the background for now, that could change whenever a verdict is reached.
Ms Slim also said the proceedings were an important step in attempting to set a precedent for future acts of violence. This principle needs to be upheld especially now as the international community is getting ready to let Mr Assad escape punishment for the crimes he committed against Syrians. Saad Hariri himself said as much more than a decade ago, and nearly five years before the beginning of the war in Syria.
The memory of a public figure of such stature had to be honoured in a public area, or at least a space open to the public, without fences and with free access to all, in a city where there are less and less of such public spaces- and where each community tends to mark its territory in an exclusive fashion. Indeed, giving the mausoleum the status of public space, in this case, that of a square, endows it with an actual relevance for today but also for the future when the memory of the events will have started fading.
The Lebanese have a lovely phrase to describe public space and the freedom it allows. This text by Marc Barani is an extract from AA nd issue — Heritage and innovation — available on our online store. Forgot your password? Click here. Already registered? Paper subscriber?
Not Subscribed? Create an account for free on aa-mag. Modify my cart Check out. More about. Email address:. Since his tragic death in a bomb attack in February , Rafik Hariri has been buried on a plot adjacent to the El-Amine mosque whose construction had been requested by the Hariri family , with six of his bodyguards and a first-aider who lost their lives with him. There is not much to see, except sometimes a former worshipper of the former Lebanese Prime Minister who came to pay his respects and flower the grave.
That said, the view of the Roman ruins from the esplanade makes for some wonderful photos. Place des Martyrs Beirut. Book your trip! Car Hire. Find a hotel. Vacation Rentals. Customized travel. On the spot.
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