Survey: 45% of Lebanese Support Repeating Hariri Crime Investigation in Lebanese Judiciary

Local Editor

According to As-Safir newspaper, A public opinion poll by International Information on last Tuesday revealed that a majority of 45% of the Lebanese, with respect to their different religious affiliations were for restarting new investigations in the Hariri assassination through Lebanese judiciary, and for referring the case to the Justice Council. Meanwhile, 27% of those supported an international tribunal while 27% abstained from answering.

The poll, surveyed according to religious affiliations of the Lebanese, showed that 81% of the Shiite people surveyed said they support a Lebanese judiciary led investigation, while 44% of the Roman Catholics and 43% of the Orthodox Christians, 3% of the Druze, and 24% of the Sunnis also supported a Lebanese Judiciary led investigation.

The Lebanese daily quoted the poll findings saying that the highest level of support to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon was among the Druze people surveyed with 44% supporting the STL, while 39% Sunnis, 36% Maronites and a low 7% of Shiite supporters, 10% of Armenians also supported the tribunal.

In the same context, the news paper noted that a previous poll was conducted between the 12th and 16th of August 2010, and the results were as follows:

27% supported the continuation of the investigation and the tribunal, while 17% demanded the total cancellation of the tribunal. Also, 43% said the tribunal's work should be amended and should be more fair and honest, while 13% said they do not know.

As-Safir said it is worth noting that 39% of the Sunni sect said they support the tribunal while 37% said they are not sure of what they think or do not know what to say.