Sayyed to Hariri: Criminals around You Must Be Held Accountable

18/09/2010 On Saturday, Lebanese delivered again a clear message to their state and judiciary…

They believed the judicial decision to summon former General Security chief Jamil as-Sayyed following his latest press conference was illogical.

Instead of examining the accuracy of his dangerous revelations, the “judiciary” chose to “summon” him, simply because he “threatened” the state, the Prime Minister and the judiciary.

A man who was unfairly put in jail for four years in the file number one in Lebanon, the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, has no right to express himself. Perhaps, he might have no right to reject his political detention and should thank God his arbitrary arrest saw an end, after four years of injustice.

On Saturday, tens of Lebanese were waiting for the General who was returning home from Paris. While offering him a warm welcome, they delivered a clear message to the country’s authorities: the exploitation of justice for political ends cannot continue…

Sayyed spoke from the airport, announcing that he places himself at the disposal of the Lebanese judiciary, but not at State Prosecutor Said Mirza’s disposal. One day earlier, Sayyed requested that the Court of Cassation remove Mirza, Police chief General Ashraf Rifi and Brigadier General Wissam al-Hasan from their posts.

“There is no justice until the false witnesses are brought to justice,” Sayyed told the crowds of people and politicians who welcomed him at the airport. “There is no indictment before Rifi, Mirza and former chief of the international investigation committee Detlev Mehlis are tried,” he added.

Addressing Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Sayyed pointed out that false witnesses must be held accountable under the law. “Otherwise, we shall settle the score against them in the street,” he warned.

“Sheikh Saad, this issue will not come to an end until the criminals around you be held accountable,” he told Hariri. “Why do you want to settle the score with Jamil Sayyed? Is it because he urged you to hold the false witnesses accountable?” he asked.

Delegations representing various opposition forces, including Hezbollah, took part in the welcoming ceremony. Representing the Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc, MP Nawwaf Moussawi spoke from the airport, stressing that Lebanese are welcoming Sayyed on the free Lebanon territory. “We will escort Sayyed to his house to save Lebanon from its judiciary and those who harmed it,” he said.

One day earlier, Hezbollah issued a statement in which it condemned Mirza’s request to summon Sayyed, saying that the request was “political par excellence,” and calling on authorities to back down this judiciary decision.

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