Why is justice so delayed in Beirut port explosion?

Why is justice so delayed in Beirut port explosion?

Five years have passed since the Beirut port explosion – and still the families of the more than 220 victims killed in the blast await justice.

Mariana Foudalian is one of them. She lost her sister Gaia in the disaster but says she still has not had the chance to grieve as nobody has been held accountable even after all these years.

The investigation into the blast has faced an uphill battle because of the institutional corruption that has long plagued Lebanon.

Political interference by officials implicated in the explosion has forced the lead investigator to suspend his work more than once. So what has changed since then?

After decades of political turbulence, a new reform-minded government lead by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has brought a ray of hope. The inquiry into the explosion has been reopened and the judge in charge of it has been reinstated.

In this episode of Beyond the Headlines host Nada AlTaher follows the developments since the explosion and looks at the climate of corruption and negligence that has delayed justice for so long.

Editor’s Note: We want to hear from you! Help us improve our podcasts by taking our two-minute listener survey. Click here.

Episoder(476)

Why has Israel decided to reoccupy Gaza - and at what cost?

Why has Israel decided to reoccupy Gaza - and at what cost?

Nearly two decades after Israel withdrew from Gaza, dismantling settlements and military posts under Ariel Sharon’s leadership, the Israeli government has now approved a plan to take over the Palestin...

8 Aug 202526min

More states say they will ‘recognise’ Palestine, but what does this mean?

More states say they will ‘recognise’ Palestine, but what does this mean?

A growing number of countries in the West have said they could soon recognise Palestinian statehood as Israel becomes increasingly isolated over its war in Gaza. Fifteen countries issued a joint decla...

2 Aug 202516min

The Blast Episode 4: Fallout (Re-run)

The Blast Episode 4: Fallout (Re-run)

In the aftermath of the blast, residents took to the streets to sweep the shards of glass and piles of rubble. Meanwhile, politicians bickered and resigned. Judges were appointed to investigate the bl...

28 Jul 202537min

The Blast Episode 3: Zero hour (Re-run)

The Blast Episode 3: Zero hour (Re-run)

Ghassan Hassrouty was working with his colleagues at the port’s grain silos. Sarah Copland, an Australian UN employee, was feeding her son Isaac, 2. And then, it’s zero hour, the moment the blast tore...

28 Jul 202527min

The Blast Episode 2: The six-year wait (Re-run)

The Blast Episode 2: The six-year wait (Re-run)

After the cargo was moved to a warehouse at the port, it sat there for years. This episode connects the dots to understand why the chemical, commonly used in fertilisers and explosives, was neglected ...

28 Jul 202531min

The Blast Episode 1: The Russian and the Rhosus (Re-run)

The Blast Episode 1: The Russian and the Rhosus (Re-run)

In the summer of 2020, Lebanon had already been experiencing some of its worst days, due to a deepening financial crisis and the global pandemic. On August 4, things took a much darker turn. Hundreds ...

28 Jul 202528min

The enduring consequences of mass starvation in Gaza

The enduring consequences of mass starvation in Gaza

Hunger has killed more than 110 people so far in Gaza over the past 20 months of war. And in the past week, the number of deaths has accelerated, causing alarm about a looming full-scale famine in the...

25 Jul 202523min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
stopp-verden
i-retten
forklart
aftenpodden-usa
popradet
det-store-bildet
nokon-ma-ga
dine-penger-pengeradet
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
rss-ness
fotballpodden-2
rss-gukild-johaug
aftenbla-bla
hanna-de-heldige
e24-podden
frokostshowet-pa-p5
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk
grasoner-den-nye-kalde-krigen