“An unpunished crime is a rewarded crime”

You have made a “sit-in” in Parliament for almost two years to protest the political situation in Lebanon. What did your daily life look like?

I lived in the Parliament day and night. I got up every morning at 6:30 am, had a quick breakfast and a cold shower-even before the staff arrived. An hour later, I was ready. I only had to undo my bed. Then, I had an hour to read the newspapers … Until 9 am, when the other deputies arrived.

From 2 p.m., the building was deprived of electricity (one of the consequences of poor management of the energy sector, undermined by corruption and the absence of reforms). So I had to organize myself to load all my electronic devices (batteries, lamps, mobile phone …) then, in the evening, I read my files. It was a very calm rhythm of life, with great inner depth. Living 721 days so is not nothing.

You stopped your mobilization on January 9, 2025, the day a new president was appointed. Why did you hear so long?

The country deserves it, just like rising generations. Lebanon did not have a head of state when it crossed many crises (economic, financial, banking, social crisis) but also an explosion, a war … If it was to do, I would do it again.

What situation is the country in today?

Lebanon is now faced with existential dangers. He must first regain his regional influence. In the past, it was university, hospital, bank and even the port of the Middle East. A bridge between Orient and West.

The second danger is even more serious: it is the risk of redistribution of our borders. I designate it as a latent danger, but very real. Faced with Lebanon, there are powerful countries, like Israel or Turkey, which may want to snack on our borders. Without forgetting Syria which could want to expand its access to the water from the Mediterranean …

Finally, the third danger is a danger that affects living together. In global opinion, the United States embodies public freedoms, France Human rights and for Lebanon is living together…. Lebanon is an example for the whole world. The Lebanese people have succeeded in this bet, but conversely, it is a failure within the political class. All these dangers jeopardize this treasure for human civilization

But do all Lebanese really want to carry this unity speech?

In any case, I held it and I shouted recently in Parliament, but it had an echo, it seems to me. We need a state that does justice, a state that gives hope and a state that defends all its citizens.

But no, I know that this unitary discourse is run by a minority, because before the denominational, sectarian interests, a patriotic discourse, can only lead if we create a higher interest which is the national interest.

What are the consequences today for the country?

It is undeniable: the hemorrhage of young people from Lebanon. And this hemorrhage, you should know that it will leave the country in the hands of unskilled people and between aging people.

The explosion investigation file of the port of Beirut could notably be relaunched. Where are we?

The judge today is investigating in order to make his indictment. But I think that it takes a collaboration of states that can give us satellite photos. I appeal to countries with satellite photos, to provide us to help us do justice. These images are necessary to understand these events. Today, we are given access to the photos of August 3, 2020 and those of August 5, 2020 but not on August 4, the day of the explosion.

Lebanon has no satellites?

Of course not! Lebanon does not even have gendarmes to circulate motorists on their roads.

As a Beirutian lawyer and former big president of Bâtonnier, the fact that this file advances a little faster than before, what does it symbolize?

It is very important for families, before it was for the lawyer. You do not imagine the suffering they may feel. And we must hear the wounded, these people come back from afar. We are talking about people with scars on the body, like this woman who is defended, all her flesh has been completely dropped out. There is also this gentleman, with a completely disfigured face, who still keeps so tenacity to claim a trial.

Do you think a trial will one day be held?

Of course, there will be the trial. Despite the difficulties, I have never dropped the pennant of hope, justice, and truth. Because an unpunished crime is a rewarded crime. And we do not have the right, in any way, to reward such a crime.