The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), over which threats of disappearance weigh for lack of funding, announced Thursday, June 3 the cancellation of the opening of the trial of Salim Ayyash, already convicted of the attack which had cost his life to former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.
The Netherlands-based STL said in a statement that the opening of the June 16 trial of Salim Ayyash, also sued for other attacks but still at large, was called off. “Due to lack of funds”.
The STL announced on Wednesday that it was in danger of disappearing due to the severe financial crisis it faces, following the pandemic and the economic crisis in Lebanon.
On August 18, 2020, the court sentenced Salim Ayyash, a member of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, to life in absentia, in particular for “Intentional homicide”, for the suicide bombing that killed Rafik Hariri and 21 others in 2005. The other three accused in the case were acquitted. This first judgment is currently under appeal.
Three attacks
Salim Ayyash is also being prosecuted for three attacks targeting the former leader of the Lebanese Communist Party Georges Haoui, killed on June 21, 2005, the former minister Marwan Hamadé, injured on the 1er October 2004, and the former defense minister Elias Murr, injured on July 12, 2005. The tribunal again called on the international community “To continue to provide it with financial support”.
The total costs of the tribunal are estimated to be between $ 600 million and $ 1 billion. With these expenses, he carried out one conviction and three trials.
The STL, which sits on the outskirts of The Hague, Netherlands, was established after a UN Security Council resolution. His term was extended for two years by the Secretary General in February.