Mustafa Hamdan

Mustafa Hamdan
Born Mustafa Hamdan
1955 (age 60–61)
Nationality Lebanese
Occupation General and former head of Republican Guard
Religion Islam

Mustafa Hamdan, also known as Mustapha Hamdan, (born 1955) was general and head of the Lebanese Presidential (Republican) Guard brigade.[1]

Career

Mustafa Hamdan is known for fighting Israel in 1982.[1] Hamdan was first put in charge of protecting then army commander Émile Lahoud in 1990.[2] Hamdan was appointed head of the Republican Guard in 1998.[2] He is known to be a close aide-de-camp to Lebanese President Émile Lahoud.[1][3]

Controversy

On 30 August 2005, Hamdan was arrested along with three other Lebanese generals during the investigation of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who was killed on 14 February 2005 in a massive explosion targeting his motorcade near downtown Beirut.[4] The other generals arrested were Jamil al Sayyed, Ali Al Hajj and Raymond Azar.[1] The 19 October 2005 Mehlis report stated Hamdan told a witness: "We are going to send him on a trip -- bye, bye Hariri."[2] It also quoted a witness saying that Hamdan had provided logistical support.[2] Hamdan and other generals were held in Roumieh prison, northeast of Beirut from 2005 to 29 April 2009.[2][5][6] They were released from the prison upon the order of Special Tribunal Lebanon Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen[7] due to lack of evidence.[5][8][9] They were not charged with a crime.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Jamil Sayyed to Saad Hariri: You Are Your Dad's Killer till You Punish Forgers". Champress. 21 September 2009. Retrieved 21 September 2009. Sayyed was among four generals who were released in April 2009 after four years in custody in connection with Hariri's assassination, no one has ever been formally charged. The other three are the former head of the presidential guard, Mustafa Hamdan, domestic security chief Ali al Hajj, and military intelligence chief Raymond Azar.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Factbox: Lebanese generals ordered released by Hariri court". Reuters. 29 April 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  3. ↑ Fattah, Hassan M. (6 September 2005). "Lebanon’s President Facing Pressure to Resign" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  4. ↑ Mallat, Chibli. Lebanon's Cedar Revolution An essay on non-violence and justice (PDF). Mallat. p. 122.
  5. 1 2 "Jamil as-Sayyed". Now Lebanon. 31 August 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  6. ↑ "Jamil al Sayyed celebrates photos". USA Today. 29 April 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  7. ↑ "Media advisory - Timeline Jamil al Sayyed". Special Tribunal for Lebanon. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  8. ↑ "Hariri's Damascus Trip Complicated By Syrian Warrants For Lebanese Officials". Wikileaks. 14 December 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  9. ↑ Muir, Jim (22 September 2010). "Deep divisions haunt Lebanese politics". BBC. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  10. ↑ "Lebanon Historical Chronology". Security Council Report. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2012.


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