Victims’ case in the Ayyash et al. trial begins

Leidschendam, 28 August 2017 – Today in the Ayyash et al. case, the Legal Representatives of 72 Victims Participating in the Proceedings began presenting evidence on the victims' behalf.

This marks the first time that victims of terrorism have presented their case before an international tribunal.

The Legal Representatives anticipate that the presentation of evidence on behalf of the victims (victims' case) will continue until 8 September 2017 and consist of live testimonies and the tendering into evidence of witness statements and documents. The Legal Representatives will present evidence about the harm that the victims have suffered collectively and individually.

One victim testified today via video conference.

The proceedings can be followed on the STL website with a 30-minute delay in Arabic, English and French.

For more information on victims' rights at the STL, please click here. Frequently asked questions on victim participation before the STL are also available here.

Background information:

On 14 February 2005, an explosion occurred near the St. Georges Hotel in downtown Beirut, so powerful that it left a crater at least ten metres wide and two metres deep in the street.

That explosion killed 22 people, including former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Many others suffered physical and psychological injuries from the blast, lost loved ones on that day, or suffered financial loss.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon was established to bring those responsible for this crime to justice, and to bring justice to the victims of the 14 February attack and connected acts of terrorism.
Salim Jamil Ayyash, Hassan Habib Merhi, Hussein Hassan Oneissi and Assad Hassan Sabra stand accused of various crimes under Article 2 of the STL Statute and the Lebanese Criminal Code for their alleged role as co-conspirators in that attack.

The Legal Representative of Victims (LRV) is assigned to represent the views and concerns of the participating victims in Prosecutor v. Ayyash et al. You can learn more about the role of the LRV on the STL's YouTube channel.