A recent directive by the Justice Ministry has ignited a heated political and legal debate after Hezbollah accused the measure of violating the constitution, in a move critics say exposes the group’s selective use of legality to defend its own interests.

The administrative circular, issued by Justice Minister Adel Nassar, instructs public notaries to verify the identity of their clients and ensure they are not listed on international sanctions registries; a standard procedure in most countries complying with global anti–money laundering rules.

But the directive drew an immediate backlash from Hezbollah MP Hussein Hajj Hassan, who held a press conference on behalf of the party’s parliamentary bloc to denounce the decision. He described the order as “a violation of procedures and the constitution,” “an overreach of authority,” and “an assault on the principle of separation of powers.”

Ironically, Hajj Hassan’s argument was steeped in legal language, repeatedly invoking the phrase “by law” and citing multiple articles of the Lebanese Constitution and penal code to bolster his case. 

At the heart of Hezbollah’s objection lies a reference in the directive to “international sanctions lists,” which the group says amounts to the indirect incorporation of U.S. and European sanctions into Lebanon’s legal framework.

“Lebanon recognizes UN sanctions, not international ones,” Hajj Hassan said, stressing what he called a “nuance” between the two terms.

The episode also highlighted an apparent reversal in Hezbollah’s rhetoric. For decades, the group’s leadership has routinely dismissed United Nations resolutions as tools of global hegemony. In a 2011 televised speech, late Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah even declared that his party stood “above international and Lebanese law.” Yet after a recent Israeli strike on the southern town of Msayleh, Hezbollah called on the Lebanese state to “assume its responsibilities” and file a complaint to the UN Security Council.

The controversy, analysts say, underscores a familiar pattern in Hezbollah’s approach: invoking the law not as a consistent standard of legitimacy, but as a tactical instrument used when convenient.

While the group accuses others of undermining sovereignty, it continues to maintain an organized arsenal outside State authority, in violation of Article 49 of the Lebanese Constitution and Article 1 of the Law on Weapons and Ammunition, which prohibits the possession of heavy weaponry without a license.

In southern Lebanon and parts of the Bekaa, property owners have long accused the group of using private land for military or partisan purposes without consent, a practice that violates Articles 737 and 221 of the Penal Code, which forbid the unlawful occupation of land, particularly when tied to military activity.

Hezbollah also operates an extensive parallel financial network through the Al-Qard al-Hassan Foundation, which offers loans and money transfers without authorization from or oversight by the Central Bank, in violation of Article 206 of the Code of Money and Credit.

Such operations, along with cross-border smuggling and customs evasion, also fall afoul of Lebanon’s Anti–Money Laundering and Counter–Terrorism Financing Law No. 44/2015 and relevant customs provisions. Despite recent official crackdowns, smuggling remains rampant along the Lebanese-Syrian border.

The group’s interference in the judiciary, by shielding suspects, blocking arrests, and exerting pressure on judges, also breaches Articles 399 and 418 of the Penal Code, which criminalize threats or interference with public officials.

Legal experts note that administrative courts in Lebanon do not recognize appeals from entities engaged in activities contrary to public order, which undermines Hezbollah’s legal standing in challenging the Justice Ministry’s directive.

“If Hezbollah wants to defend the rule of law, it might start by respecting at least one article of the constitution — Article 49 — before invoking legality to protect its interests,” a constitutional lawyer told Nidaa Al-Watan newspaper.