Special Tribunal for Lebanon
International tribunal for the Rafic Hariri assassination / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), also referred to as the Lebanon Tribunal or the Hariri Tribunal, is a tribunal of international character[1][2] applying Lebanese criminal law[3] under the authority of the United Nations to carry out the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for 14 February 2005 assassination of Rafic Hariri, the former Lebanese prime minister, and the deaths of 21 others,[4][5][6] as well as those responsible for connected attacks.[7]
Special Tribunal for Lebanon | |
---|---|
المحكمة الخاصة بلبنان Tribunal spécial pour le Liban | |
52.080°N 4.391°E / 52.080; 4.391 | |
Established | 2009 |
Location | Leidschendam, Netherlands |
Coordinates | 52.080°N 4.391°E / 52.080; 4.391 |
Composition method | Appointment by the United Nations Secretary-General |
Authorized by | Resolution 1757 |
Judge term length | 3 years |
Number of positions | 9 |
Website | http://www.stl-tsl.org/ |
President | |
Currently | Ivana Hrdličková |
Since | 2015 |
Vice-President | |
Currently | Ralph Riachi |
Since | 2009 |
The Tribunal officially opened on 1 March 2009[8][9] and has primacy over the national courts of Lebanon.[10] The Tribunal has its seat in Leidschendam, on the outskirts of The Hague, Netherlands, and a field office in the Lebanese capital, Beirut. Its official languages are Arabic, French and English.[11] The Tribunal is unique among international criminal tribunals in that it may hold trials in absentia,[12] and it is the first to deal with terrorism as a distinct crime.[13] The Tribunal's eleven judges, a combination of Lebanese and international judges, are appointed by the UN Secretary-General for a renewable term of three years.[14]
The Tribunal's mandate was initially three years.[15] However, there is no fixed timeline for the judicial work to be completed.[16] The mandate has subsequently been extended to allow the Tribunal to complete its work.[17]
The verdict was eventually issued on 18 August 2020,[18] which was originally set on 7 August, but postponed following the 2020 Beirut explosion.[19]