The Legacy of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon

This chapter discusses the long-term contributions and drawbacks of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL). It considers whether the STL will contribute to the development of Lebanese criminal law, looking particularly at the infusion of international law concepts into Lebanese domestic law in the decisions of the STL Appeals Chamber. It addresses the question of selective justice and the mandate of the STL, demonstrating that the limited nature of the STL's mandate puts the Tribunal in a category separate from other international courts and tribunals. It argues that by drawing on the historical context in Lebanon surrounding the Hariri assassination, the prosecutors could try to partially address the pervasive criticism regarding selective justice.