MP Fattoush attacks the Bar Association who disbars him in a move qualified as a hasty reaction

Following the revolting incident of MP Fattush allegedly aggressing Manal Daou at the Justice Palace in Baabda, Mr. Fattush convened a press conference last Thursday during which he revealed privileged information related to the court case he was depositing against Minister Michel Pharaon and also attacked publicly the President of the Beirut Bar Association.  As a result, the Board of the Beirut Bar Association took a decision on the same day to disbar Mr. Fattush.  The Bar Association considered that what Mr.  Fattush said and revealed disrespect the position of Bar President and is a violation of the profession, its by-laws and ethics.
The Legal Agenda condemned the decision of the Bar Association which, it believes, “creates a dangerous precedent and may threaten the autonomy of lawyers”.  The Legal Agenda wondered about the legitimacy of disbarring a lawyer without trial and without allowing him to defend himself.  The Legal Agenda insisted that although Fattush needs to be tried and prosecuted for what he did; however, his right to defense should not be violated.   Other similar reactions were aired by many a legal expert who noted that referring Fattush to a disciplinary board would have probably led to his prosecution up to inflicting a certain period of disbarment.  However, the hasty decision of the Board of the Bar Association will regretfully make it easy for Fattush to appeal this decision with the appeal court for lawyers and argue that he has been denied to right to defend himself.
Source: Al-Akhbar, 25 & 27 October 2014