Nineteen years after his assassination, the memory of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, who died on February 14, 2005 in a car bombing in the Lebanese capital, remains vivid in the collective memory of many Lebanese people.
Politicians paid tribute to him in large numbers on Wednesday, with many lamenting that justice had not been served. Samir Geagea, the leader of the Lebanese Forces (LF), posted a portrait of Rafic Hariri on X with the comment, “You chose dialogue, but they betrayed you,” alluding to Hezbollah members who had been convicted by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) for Hariri’s murder.
Sami Gemayel, the leader of the Kataeb party, denounced “incomplete justice that continues to protect the guilty,” referring to the assassins of Rafic Hariri whom the Lebanese authorities are supposed to arrest and imprison at the request of the STL. According to him, “Despite the judgments rendered by the international tribunal that condemned the criminals and evidently confirmed Hezbollah’s involvement in the case, the murderers continue to be protected.”
He added, “As long as justice isn’t served, and accounts for all the crimes committed are not settled, Lebanon will know neither peace nor stability.” He called on the family and supporters of the Future Movement to “pursue (their) struggle to free the state from the grip of weapons and militias.”
In an interview with the Lebanese media, al-Jadeed TV, MP Nadim Gemayel considered Rafic Hariri’s assassination as “the result of the occupation to which we are still subjected.”
“Freedom and sovereignty, for which we will continue to fight, have a price,” he persisted.
MP Ashraf Rifi, a member of the Renewal bloc from Tripoli, denounced Hariri’s assassination, insisting, “Those who killed the former Prime Minister have been convicted by the international tribunal. As for those who ordered his killing, they belong to the (Iranian-backed) axis of resistance.” He pledged to continue the struggle to restore justice and sovereignty, a commitment shared by his colleague from the Renewal bloc, Fouad Makhzoumi.
Bahaa Hariri, brother of Future Movement leader Saad Hariri, paid tribute to his father, “This giant with a big heart and infinite dreams who worked to end the civil war in Lebanon through the Taif Agreement, a fundamental pillar of the Lebanese political system.” In a statement released on Wednesday, Bahaa Hariri recalled that the former Prime Minister always put forward “the future of the Lebanese people, worthy of a prosperous life, as well as state institutions that must be built on the foundations of justice, equality, transparency and integrity.” He also highlighted all projects implemented by his father to “restore confidence in the Lebanese economy and encourage investments in the country.”
Tony Frangieh, MP from Zgharta, regretted “the lack of statesmen with a vision working for the prosperity of the country,” similar to Rafic Hariri. He declared that “moderation and openness remain the cornerstone for the salvation and survival of Lebanon.”
Ghada Ayoub, LF MP, expressed her unyielding hope for justice “that should see the light in Lebanon.” “February 14, 2005 – February 14, 2024. In Lebanon, justice will be served,” she wrote on X.
Her LF colleague, Ziad Hawat, wrote on the X platform, “The reality of Lebanon in 2024 is more dangerous than that of the 1990s.” He emphasized that the country, which is threatened in its own existence, urgently needs a grand project to overcome its crisis, end the illegal reign of weapons, and reconcile Lebanon with Arab countries and the world.
