Tarek Bitar

Tarek Bitar (Arabic: طارق بيطار, Akkar, born 1974) is a Lebanese judge and the head of Beirut’s criminal court, who is the second judge to lead the investigation of the 2020 Beirut Port explosion, succeeding Fadi Sawwan who was dismissed by the Lebanese court after charging two former Amal Party ministers over the blast, which was caused by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate negligently stored in the port for over six years. Sawwan's dismissal was objected to by the victims’ families because they feared that it would take the case back to zero. In September 2021, Bitar received a threat by Hezbollah.

Bitar is described as having no bias or affiliations to any political party.

On 14 October 2021, protests were instigated by the Shiite groups of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, rebuffed by the Lebanese Army, outside the Justice Palace in Eastern Beirut, demanding an end to Bitar's judgeship, accusing him of political bias and incompetence. Hezbollah partisans have claimed that Lebanese Forces supporters were present, though this is unconfirmed. Clashes erupted between the militants leaving six protesters and one civilian dead