On Tuesday night, I had the pleasure of joining Lil Watan on MTV Lebanon via live video call with Joe Maalouf and his guest, Makram Rabah. Both are good friends of mine, and I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with Joe on numerous investigations and battles over the years. After a long hiatus, it was an honor to share airtime with him once again—especially as it marked my first appearance on MTV Lebanon.
I sent a message to the new president after getting your input on my Instagram story. I pulled together everything I heard from you, especially about judicial reform, which is something I care about a lot. Today, I’m gonna expand on that and elaborate my idea.
Lebanon is standing at a fork in the road. A new president, a new prime minister, and, maybe, a new chance to break free from the corruption and stagnation that have paralyzed the country for decades.
But here’s the catch: legislation is still stuck in the hands of entrenched elites who use it to prop up their interests, ignoring the real needs of the public. It’s a frustrating legislative stalemate—but there’s one way to break it: judicial reform.
The timing also couldn’t be better. The new prime minister isn’t just anyone—he’s the former President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), one of the sharpest legal minds in the world. I’m still elated that we all came together to make it a reality and get him appointed!
If anyone can steer Lebanon’s judiciary into becoming a beacon of fairness and justice, it’s him. By cleaning up the judiciary, this administration could get ahead of malicious legislative gridlock and finally enforce laws that protect people, not illegitimate influence and power.
Parliament Keys in Berri’s Hands
About a third of the DMs and story replies I got were people asking what we can do about Nabih Berri—Hezbollah’s right-hand man and the Speaker of Parliament since, what, the Paleolithic era?
Under his speakership, Lebanon’s parliament has been locked in a perpetual deadlock. Vital reforms are ignored, laws are diluted beyond recognition, and the public’s real needs are constantly pushed aside. Case in point: we’ve gone over two years without a president—not once, but twice—because he refused to call a parliamentary session unless it was a the predetermined outcome he wanted (or, of course, included a salary increase for MPs).
It’s a rigged game where the old elites bend the rules, break them when it suits them, and everyone else pays the price. Frustration is at a breaking point, and trust in government is practically nonexistent. Without a functioning parliament, change feels out of reach. How can Joseph Aoun and Nawaf Salam make progress when the third leg of the table is Nabih Berri—Lebanon’s mob boss, Hezbollah’s unsanctioned proxy, and the guy who handles things like negotiating their surrender to Israel?
That’s where the judiciary can step in.
The Judiciary’s Role in Breaking the Gridlock
Lebanon’s judiciary has the power to interpret and enforce laws, even when the legislature is paralyzed. The problem isn’t the legal framework—we already have laws against corruption, protecting the environment, and safeguarding human rights. Sure, some laws need updating, and others, like Article 534 of the penal code, need to be abolished altogether. But there are plenty of existing laws that, if implemented properly, could lead to real, tangible improvements in our lives.
The real issue is implementation. Judges with integrity have the ability to bridge the gap between laws on paper and justice in practice.
A case that exemplifies this potential is that of Samira Soueidan, a Lebanese widow whose children were born to her late Egyptian husband. In 2009, a First Instance Court in Jdeideh-Metn, presided over by Judge John Azzi, issued a groundbreaking decision granting Soueidan’s children Lebanese nationality. Judge Azzi reasoned that if the nationality law allowed a naturalized woman to pass on Lebanese nationality from her deceased husband in the name of family unity, then the same must apply to Lebanese women. He invoked the legal principle that when laws are ambiguous or incomplete, a judge’s mission is to interpret or extend the rule to achieve a just and humane solution aligned with equity and justice. By grounding his decision in the Lebanese constitution and nationality law, Judge Azzi demonstrated the judiciary’s power to uphold fairness even when legislation falls short. However, this bold and just ruling came at a cost. Judge Azzi was removed from his post and reassigned to a position where he could no longer make similarly impactful decisions—a clear message from the entrenched elites. This kind of judicial courage and principled decision-making is exactly what Lebanon needs to restore faith in its legal system and push for real reform.
How Lebanon’s Justice System Works (or Doesn’t)
Lebanon’s justice system is a mix of French civil law and local traditions. On paper, it’s comprehensive and functional. In reality, it’s a maze of inefficiency and political meddling. Here’s a quick rundown:
Ordinary Courts: Handle civil and criminal cases, with a hierarchy that leads up to the Court of Cassation (the top authority).
Specialized Courts: Focus on specific issues like military or administrative disputes.
Religious Courts: Deal with personal status laws for Lebanon’s various religious communities. (For me, Lebanon will never truly move froward unless we get a civil personal status law and abolish these religious courts that foster sectarian division and are increasingly skewed against women’s rights, and children’s rights, in favor of even abusive men.)
The Constitutional Council: Handles constitutional matters and election disputes.
At the heart of this system is the Public Prosecution Office, led by the النائب العام (Public Prosecutor). The top spot belongs to the Public Prosecutor of the Court of Cassation (النائب العام التمييزي), who oversees the whole operation. Below them are regional and specialized prosecutors who tackle everything from local disputes to financial crimes.
These prosecutors hold immense power—they decide what cases go to court and how justice is served.
But corruption and political interference often turn this power into a weapon for the old guard.
Why the Judiciary Has Been Failing
The judiciary is supposed to be the great equalizer, but in Lebanon, it’s a tool for the powerful to abuse for personal gain and revenge. Many judges and prosecutors are more interested in serving political patrons than delivering justice.
Corruption is rampant, accountability is non-existent, and trust in the system has been shattered. Instead of being a pillar of democracy, the judiciary has become a roadblock. And when we had judges that weren’t corrupt, they’d be threatened or derailed, as we saw Hezbollah do when they tried to assassinate the investigating judge in the August 4, 2020 port explosion.
Consider my own experience: I was forced to flee after enduring four illegal detentions designed to intimidate me into silence following the October 17, 2019 uprising. To this day, years later, military court summonses still prevent me from returning home.
Fixing the System: Public Prosecutors as the Key
Reforming the Public Prosecution Office is where it all starts. Here’s how:
Merit-Based Appointments: Judges and prosecutors should be chosen for their qualifications, not their connections.
Independent Oversight: Create bodies to monitor the decisions and actions of prosecutors, ensuring they serve justice, not politics.
Training and Resources: Give prosecutors the tools they need to do their jobs well and with integrity.
Cut Political Ties: Ensure the Public Prosecution Office is free from political influence.
This is where the new prime minister’s background becomes a game-changer. With his international experience, he can bring best practices to Lebanon, setting a new standard for fairness and transparency. He understands how to build systems that resist corruption, intimidation (even by the likes of Israel) and deliver results.
Judicial reform isn’t just about cleaning up the courts. It’s about giving Lebanon a chance to function again. Here’s what it could mean:
Better Governance: Enforce existing laws and make government work for the people.
Restored Trust: Show the public that justice is real and corruption won’t be tolerated.
Set the Tone for Reform: Use the judiciary as a model for fixing other broken systems.
Empower Civil Society: Give activists and NGOs a real shot at making change through the courts.
This is the moment to turn the judiciary into a force for good—not just for this administration, but for Lebanon’s future.
Final Thoughts
Judicial reform isn’t just another box to check; it’s the foundation for everything else.
With a judiciary that works, Lebanon can finally break free from the grip of corrupt elites’ control and start building a system that works for the people.
And with the new prime minister’s unparalleled expertise, and the president’s steadfastness in the face of intimidation, there’s no better time to do this.
Many laws are already there. The people are ready. It’s time to make justice real.
Share this post