BEIRUT: The STL Tuesday said it was accepting applications for victims of the bomb which killed Rafik Hariri to participate in the tribunal’s proceedings.

"The Victims’ Participation Unit of the [Special Tribunal for Lebanon] has today opened applications for victims to participate in the proceedings before the Tribunal," the STL said in a statement, adding that those who feel they suffered physical, mental or material harms should complete a confidential application form to be reviewed by Pre-trial Judge Daniel Fransen. 

Once the pre-trial judge approves the application, the victim is entitled to a number of rights similar to those of the prosecution and the defense. These include the calling and cross-examining of witnesses, the submission of evidence and the filing of motions, with the approval of the judges. 

The United Nations-backed court cannot award compensation to victims for the harm they suffered. However, if one or more accused persons are convicted, the tribunal will provide victims with a certified copy of the judgment, which they may present before national courts in order to seek compensation.

The STL was established pursuant U.N. Security Council Resolution 1757 to investigate the assassination of former Prime Minister Hariri in 2005 and 22 others. 

On June 30, a three-member STL delegation handed over an indictment accusing four Hezbollah members of involvement in the assassination to Lebanon’s State Prosecutor Saeed Mirza. Lebanon has 30 days to arrest the suspects; otherwise, they will be tried in absentia.