Hariri and Lebanon: Rethinking International Criminal Tribunals

On February 14, 2005, a car bombing in Beirut killed five-time former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, along with 22 others. The attack also led to 220 injuries and extensive property damage. The international community responded swiftly, condemning the attack and the pattern of violence against prominent Lebanese political figures. The United Nations created a fact-finding mission and an independent commission, and recently backed the creation of a special criminal tribunal requested by the Lebanese government. The tribunal, which incorporates many elements of existing international criminal courts, can also be viewed in the context of new UN thinking on justice initiatives in conflict societies. Although the future of the Lebanon tribunal is unclear, the article examines its background and proposed operation and questions whether it is an appropriate judicial organ for the task at hand...[more]