Justice Minister Adel Nassar formally recorded his objection to the Cabinet’s appointment of Gracia Azzi as Director General of Customs, noting that she is a defendant in the investigation by judicial investigator Tarek Bitar into the 2020 Beirut port explosion.

Despite the objection, the Cabinet approved Azzi’s appointment along with other senior customs posts. Brigadier General Misbah Khalil was named head of the Higher Customs Council, with Louay Al-Hajj Shahadeh and Charbel Nassib Khalil appointed as members. 

Speaking following the Cabinet session, Information Minister Paul Morcos justified the appointment, saying that “the law does not prohibit this appointment as long as the presumption of innocence is respected.”

Speaking to Voice of Lebanon radio, Nassar said it was inappropriate for Azzi to receive a promotion while she remains under indictment. He emphasized that his objection does not reflect the course of the ongoing investigation, but rather concerns the suitability of appointing someone to a sensitive and critical position while legal proceedings are still pending in such a high-profile case.

Nassar stressed his commitment to the concept of presumption of innocence, noting that his stance should not be interpreted as an outright rejection of Azzi’s appointment.

“My position stems from the fact that she is still facing legal proceedings in connection with a crime of enormous scale,” he said. “We must await the results of the investigations and work to uncover all the circumstances surrounding the Beirut port explosion.”

The minister clarified that the judiciary is not involved in administrative appointments and operates independently. His remarks, he said, represent his personal position within the Cabinet.

“There is no substantive connection between administrative appointments made by the Cabinet and the independence of the judiciary. Linking the two is simply inaccurate,” he added.

Nassar noted that the Cabinet majority supported Azzi’s appointment, citing the principle of presumption of innocence, which protects an individual’s rights while leaving questions of suitability for the role separate.

“I requested that my objection be officially recorded in the session minutes. My reservation reflects responsibility, not a personal stance,” he said.