Lebanon has been engulfed in overlapping crises for years, each compounding the other and eroding public trust in the state. The country’s political system, paralyzed by sectarian power-sharing and entrenched elites, has consistently failed to deliver reforms. The 2019 mass protests exposed the depth of frustration among citizens who felt abandoned by leaders unable or unwilling to address corruption and governance failures.
The financial collapse that followed wiped out people’s life savings, drove poverty to unprecedented levels, and deepened inequality. Meanwhile, catastrophic events such as the 2020 Beirut Port Explosion, one of the largest non-nuclear blasts in history, underscored the deadly consequences of negligence and impunity. Despite promises of accountability, investigations have stalled, manipulated, or been obstructed, reinforcing a sense of injustice.
Impunity is not new to Lebanon. From the civil war era through post-war amnesties, to ongoing political assassinations and rights abuses, those in power have rarely been held to account. The result is a society where citizens remain largely sidelined from decisions that directly shape their lives, and where justice often feels out of reach.
Since assuming office in early 2025, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has pledged a break from Lebanon’s endemic corruption by championing judicial independence, transparency, and state sovereignty. Under his rule, the government has taken several concrete steps: it passed a landmark banking law in April 2025 ending decades of banking secrecy and aimed at protecting small depositors and enhancing financial transparency it pursued administrative and financial reforms, including launching mechanisms for transparent public sector appointments and easing restrictions over coastal commercial zoning.
Judicial processes have also gained momentum: at least two former ministers are now under investigation, with one already detained on corruption charges, signaling a newfound willingness to hold elites accountable. Simultaneously, there’s concerted effort to reclaim full state authority, extending control over borders, ports, and disrupting illicit financial flows historically enabled by unregulated actors like Hezbollah.
Taken together, these steps mark a notable policy shift: from systemic impunity toward transparency and accountability. Whether this represents the beginning of a deeper structural transformation, or remains symbolic, depends on sustained implementation, institutional support, and continued public scrutiny.
It is against this backdrop that the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP) has launched Pathways to Justice in Lebanon, a platform designed to break through the silence and open up conversations on justice and accountability to those most affected.
“Lebanon now has a unique opportunity for reform and reconstruction,” says Obai Kurd Ali, the Legal Unit Manager at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP). “Seizing this moment can help guide the country towards a just future that upholds the rule of law.” The initiative is built on the recognition that justice must not remain the domain of elites, but should instead be accessible and representative of Lebanon’s diverse communities.
Building on Past Work
Since 2019, TIMEP has prioritized programming in Lebanon, with a focus on transparency, governance reform, and accountability. The new platform expands on this body of work by consolidating analysis, legal interventions, and public engagement into one accessible hub. “It explains the top justice-related developments affecting Lebanon in accessible language for both technical and non-technical audiences,” Obai notes, while also providing space for those directly impacted to share their stories.
Structure: Cases, Explainers, and Stories
The site is divided into three sections designed for different audiences:
Case Profiles document significant accountability-related proceedings, including domestic cases and those pursued abroad. They summarize each case, outline its status, and explain its broader importance.
Explainers break down complex legal reforms, draft laws, and institutional dynamics into digestible content that can help the public better understand and engage with justice issues.
Stories give survivors and affected individuals a platform to reflect on what justice means to them.
“Justice and accountability are not merely about bringing cases before a court of law” Obai emphasizes. “They also encompass broader reforms and commitments that can shape a just future, informed by the aspirations of those most impacted.”
Spotlight on Emblematic Cases
The Beirut Port explosion of August 4, 2020, which killed more than 220 people and injured thousands, remains one of the most emblematic cases of Lebanon’s entrenched impunity. The domestic investigation—first led by Judge Fadi Sawan and later Judge Tarek Bitar—has been repeatedly obstructed through lawsuits, suspensions, and political interference, with high-ranking officials continuing to evade accountability. Families of victims have staged relentless protests, while international rights groups have condemned systematic obstruction, pushing victims’ relatives and advocacy organizations to pursue cases abroad in France, Germany, and the United States.
Since Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s government took office in early 2025, the stalled probe has shown signs of revival. Judge Bitar resumed interrogations, summoning senior officials including Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim and Maj. Gen. Tony Saliba, and is preparing a 1,200-page indictment expected later this year, pending a final French investigative report. Still, frustration endures: Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch warn that “justice delayed is justice denied,” and on the fifth anniversary of the blast, families and supporters gathered to mourn and denounce the lack of progress, despite new pledges from President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Salam to pursue accountability.
It is in this broader context that TIMEP’s platform highlights emblematic cases like the port explosion and major financial abuses. Many such proceedings, particularly those in foreign courts, unfold with little public awareness or coverage. TIMEP has worked with lawyers to map these cases, selecting those most representative of Lebanon’s accountability struggles. The goal is not to exhaustively list every case but to build a growing database that helps citizens follow proceedings, understand their significance, and engage with justice debates in an informed way—while refraining from disclosing non-public information, in respect of judicial processes and the rights of all parties involved.
Balancing Depth and Accessibility
Translating complex legal developments into plain language is a challenge the team takes seriously. Drafts are prepared by legal experts, then reviewed and simplified without compromising accuracy. “This way, we try to balance depth and accuracy with accessibility,” Obai explains. “It’s critical to ensuring that justice and accountability discussions are not elitist or out-of-reach for those who should be engaging with them firsthand.”
Centering Survivors’ Voices
TIMEP has a history of working closely with survivors of Lebanon’s multiple crises, from families devastated by the port explosion to victims of financial crimes. Their stories are featured on the platform in the formats they are most comfortable with, ensuring their voices are honored while contextualized within broader justice conversations.
“As part of that engagement, we have been inviting them to share their stories, reflect on what justice means to them, and describe the actions they are taking or advocating for in their pursuit of justice,” Obai says. “With their permission, we publish these narratives to amplify their priorities and inform a people-centered justice process.”
Collaboration at the Core
Collaboration with local NGOs, legal experts, and media outlets has been central to shaping and launching the platform. TIMEP stresses that this cooperative approach will continue, with plans to integrate additional voices and data partners in the future.
Justice, Defined by the People
Ultimately, TIMEP insists that no external actor should dictate what justice in Lebanon looks like. “Justice must be defined by the people of Lebanon themselves, with their diverse needs and positionalities,” Obai underscores. The platform, then, is not an answer but an invitation: a space to reclaim agency, exchange knowledge, and pursue accountability together.
