Justice Ministry Confirms Receiving Two Syrian Notices against Jumblat, Khashan

Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi confirmed on Thursday receiving two Syrian legal notices against Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat and journalist Fares Khashan.

LBCI television reported on Thursday afternoon that Rifi has confirmed receiving the notices from the Criminal Court of the Syrian city of Lattakia.

These warrants were issued against Jumblat and Khashan for “undermining the Syrian state's authority.”

"The Syrian embassy handed the two notices to the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which then sent them to the Justice Ministry,” Rifi said.

He also expressed that he was “surprised by these notices.”

"We were particularly surprised because the amnesty ruling issued by the Syrian regime in 2013 included these accusations,” he explained.

"I am currently examining these notices,” LBCI quoted the Justice Minister as saying.

However, the Foreign Ministry denied receiving any of the two warrants, according to the same source.

"The PSP also said it had no former idea about these notices,” LBCI added.

Nevertheless, LBCI aired pictures of the notices, saying they were sent by the Syrian embassy to the Foreign Ministry, and that they were then sent to the Justice Ministry without examining their content.

Former General Security chief Maj. Gen. Jamil Sayyed had announced on October 3, 2010 that his lawyers in Syria informed him of 33 legal in absentia notices issued by the Damascus First Investigative Judge against judges, military officers, politicians, and media personalities, in addition to other Lebanese and foreign figures.

Also, Syrian sources revealed in 2010 that there are warrants issued against Jumblat for “offending” the Syrian people since 2005, when he criticized the regime.

S.D.B.

M.T.