Tarek William Saab

Tarek William Saab Halabi (in Arabic: طارق وليم صعب حلبي; El Tigre, Anzoátegui, September 10, 1962) is a Venezuelan lawyer, politician and poet. He was a student leader, head of the human rights office of the municipal council of Caracas between 1993 and 1998, congressman for the Federal District between 1998 and 1999, member of the National Constituent Assembly of 1999, deputy in the National Assembly for the state of Anzoátegui between 2000 and 2004, governor of that same State between 2004 and 2012, president of the Ombudsman's Office appointed by the National Assembly in 2014, and in 2017 he was appointed as attorney general of the Republic by the National Constituent Assembly.

It has been sanctioned by the governments of Colombia, the United States, Canada, Switzerland and the countries that make up the European Union for undermining democracy in Venezuela.

Student activity

He was born into a family of Lebanese merchants. Tarek William Saab showed his vocation to be a writer, beginning to publish poems and articles in the local press from the age of fifteen in the Antorcha newspaper of the city of El Tigre. Tarek William Saab in his youth was a student leader and militant of extreme left movements. Already at the age of 14, Saab joined former guerrilla commander Douglas Bravo and his revolutionary movement PRV-Ruptura, becoming his personal assistant from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s. He was elected president of the Student Center of the Liceo Briceño Méndez de El Tigre between 1978 and 1980 and president of the Student Federation of the Southern zone of the Anzoátegui state between 1979 and 1980.

Transferred to Mérida, where between 1981 and 1982 he chaired the committee of high school graduates without a place at the Universidad de los Andes, he declined to continue studying literature at the university (where he was part of the student movement) to opt to study law at the Santa María University of Caracas.

He has a postgraduate degree in criminal law and studies in human rights at the Central University of Venezuela (UCV), also in Caracas.

Aside from his political life, Tarek is known for his love of music, especially English-speaking artists and bands, from John Lennon to AC/DC, and for his love of the gym, which has led to a notable change in his physique. He is the father of four children.

Political career

At the beginning of the nineties, he was appointed head of the human rights office of the Municipal Council of Caracas. He met at the San Carlos Barracks the lieutenant colonel of the 1992 coup d'état, Hugo Chávez, whom he defended with a group of jurists, managing to intercede with President Rafael Caldera to obtain his pardon in 1994.

Saab was elected governor of the state of Anzoátegui in two consecutive terms (2004-2012) and in 2014 he was appointed Ombudsman. His political career has not been without controversy. He was appointed attorney general by the Constituent Assembly in an act that generated controversy, given the political context of the country. This same Assembly, controlled entirely by the ruling party, dismissed Luisa Ortega Díaz, a prosecutor critical of the Government.

Parliamentarian

After Chávez's release, he began to collaborate in the Bolivarian Revolutionary Movement-200 (MBR-200), immediate predecessor of the Fifth Republic Movement (MVR), actively supporting Chávez's candidacy for the presidency in December 1998. managing to be elected by this political organization as a deputy to the National Congress in the elections of that year, occupying the position of president of the culture commission of the chamber of deputies. In July of that year he was elected a member of the National Constituent Assembly to draft the new 1999 constitution, in which he chaired the Human Rights Commission.

In 2000 he was elected as a deputy to the newly created National Assembly in the general elections and chairs the Foreign Policy Commission. The same year he traveled to ten member countries of OPEC, forming part of the official delegation of the Venezuelan president..

In 2002, Venezuelan human rights organizations spoke out for his arrest during the April 11 coup d'état. Months later, Saab, together with the Democratic Action deputy, Edgar Zambrano, chair the National Assembly commission which investigated the events that occurred during the coup d'état and which concludes with the identification of the soldiers involved.

In October, the United States revoked the entry visa that he had had since 2000 as a result of alleged links with international terrorist organizations and Venezuelan anarchist groups in the last two years. Tarek William Saab rejected the accusations. Parliamentarian Juan Barreto was also affected by this measure.

Governor of Anzoátegui

In 2004 he left his position as deputy to run for the MVR in the regional elections for Governor of his home state, Estado Anzoátegui. In the elections of October 31, he obtained 187,209 votes (57% of the total), surpassing the opponent Antonio Barreto, taking over from David De Lima and becoming the fifth governor of Anzoátegui.

In June 2007, he successfully faced a process of collecting signatures to activate a recall referendum against him led by former minister Luis Alfonso Dávila. Saab joins the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) after the dissolution of the MVR.^{[citation needed]}

In June 2008, he won the internal elections of his party to seek reelection for the governorship of Anzoátegui in the following regional elections. In these elections, held on November 23 and where he faced opponents Gustavo Marcano and Benjamín Rausseo, Saab obtained 311,344 votes (55% of the total), being re-elected.

In 2016, investigations were initiated against the directors of the construction company Conkor, Elías Koury Guevara and Alejandro Ruíz Mazzeo, who obtained more than one hundred contracts with the government of Anzoátegui during Saab's management (2004- 2012). By 2018, these investigations had not been successful. Former public prosecutor Zair Mundaray assured in 2023 during an interview on the Buenas noche program that when Tarek arrived at the prosecutor's office in 2017, he had six files open against him related to with Conkor (which, according to him, Saab owned at the time).

Ombudsman

His management emphasized the academic development of the Ombudsman's officials. In this position, Saab was a liaison to the Judiciary, through the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), for the request of freedoms with humanitarian measures to citizens deprived of liberty who were sick. Likewise, he managed the release of the politicians Yon Goicoechea, Raúl Baduel and Wilmer Azuaje, fourteen police officers from the Chacao municipality, as well as the change to house arrest of the opposition leader Leopoldo López. He also requested that the case be reopened to investigate the death, in strange circumstances, of the rapper Tyrone Canserbero González.

He asked to sanction the National Guards who murdered the young Fabián Urbina and rejected the attacks by Chavista sympathizers on opposition deputies in the National Assembly.

At the end of 2016, Tarek William Saab is appointed president of the Republican Moral Council, the governing body made up of the Ombudsman's Office, the Attorney General's Office and the Comptroller General's Office. In 2017, he was ratified in the same position. In 2017, he went on an official visit to Lebanon and met with the president of that country, Michel Aoun, and the president of parliament, Nabih Berri. From this position, he promoted the editorial of the Law to prohibit bullfighting in the country.

Attorney General

Intervention of the Supreme Court of Justice and Reactions

In 2017 the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) published sentence 156 where it granted itself and the President of Venezuela the constitutional powers of the National Assembly, as long as it remains in the situation of contempt" that the TSJ considered existing, an act that was rejected by a large part of Venezuelan society, the Organization of American States (OAS) and several countries. On March 31, 2017, Luisa Ortega Díaz, who at that time was the attorney general of Venezuela, in an official event at the headquarters of the Public Ministry, denounced to the country that sentences 155 and 156 represented a breach of the constitutional order.

Later on May 1 of the same year, Nicolás Maduro, through a controversial interpretation of Articles 347, 348 and 349 of the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, announced the convocation of a National Constituent Assembly (ANC), which It has been classified by a good part of the Venezuelan people, American and European presidents, as well as international organizations, as an illegitimate and illegal Constituent Assembly. After learning of the call, Ortega Díaz criticized that it was Nicolás Maduro and not the Venezuelan people who called said Constituent Assembly, as established by the Constitution. On June 7, the TSJ decided that Maduro could continue with the convocation of the Constituent Assembly, since he was acting on behalf of the Venezuelan people. In response, the attorney general filed various appeals in the TSJ to stop the ANC, including the challenge of thirty-three magistrates who were illegally appointed by the AN at the end of 2015. The TSJ rejected all of the prosecutor's appeals without explaining why. background.^{[citation required]} Saab said that Ortega Díaz never objected to this designation either in writing or verbally.

Convocation and controversy of the National Constituent Assembly

For the Chavista sector of Venezuela, Luisa Ortega Díaz, who had always been a faithful ally of the ruling party, had now become a traitor. Pedro Carreño, AN deputy for the ruling Gran Polo Patriotico (GPP) coalition, He publicly accused Ortega Díaz of suffering from mental insanity and shortly thereafter filed a lawsuit in the TSJ requesting a preliminary trial against the prosecutor for the commission of alleged serious crimes.

On August 5, 2017, the TSJ usurping the authority of the AN, removed Luisa Ortega Díaz from office, also disqualifying her from holding public office, freezing her assets and prohibiting her from leaving the country. On its first day of session, the National Constituent Assembly received the ruling from the TSJ announcing the removal of Luisa Ortega Díaz from office. Constituent Diosdado Cabello proposed the dismissal of Ortega Díaz and the appointment of Tarek William Saab, who by then was the ombudsman, as 'provisional' attorney general. William Saab was appointed as the new head of the Public Ministry on the same day.

OHCHR report and criticism of Saab's actions

The OHCHR also noted in early August 2017, the attorney general had dismissed several members of the Directorate for the Protection of Fundamental Rights of the Public Ministry, whose function is to investigate human rights violations committed by the forces. of security. The attorney general dismantled the Criminalistics Unit Against the Violation of Fundamental Rights, created in 2014 by Ortega Díaz to collect forensic evidence in cases in which members of the security forces were accused of having committed human rights violations; The director of those units and several of her forensic experts would have fled the country after receiving death threats, according to the report. As a result of the above, the Public Ministry would have lost its ability to carry out independent forensic examinations in cases of human rights violations committed by members of State security.

On June 14, 2018, the ANC by majority appointed William Saab as president of the Truth Commission, considering the appointment of constituent Delcy Rodríguez as Vice President of Venezuela. On June 22, 2018, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), published a report titled «Human rights violations in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela: A downward spiral that seems to have no end», in which he pointed out that since William Saab was appointed as attorney general in August 2017, investigations against security personnel for the commission of crimes against humanity had decreased. In the report, the OHCHR noted that the new internal policy within the Public Ministry under the management of William Saab was that any investigation related to a security agent had to be approved personally by the attorney general, which negatively influenced the independence of The prosecutors. The report also reads that in some cases, prosecutors were fired or separated from the cases, as happened with the prosecutor who was investigating the death of Rubén González, allegedly murdered by a GNB bullet on July 10, 2017, prosecutor who was removed from the case when she was about to interrogate the GNB agents allegedly involved in the homicide.

The UN Committee of Human Rights Experts, which began its examination of Venezuela on October 9, 2023, questioned Saab's actions. The NGO Provea shared a video on the social network He highlighted the vehemence with which Saab defends the government of Nicolás Maduro, arguing that this demonstrated its lack of independence. One of the representatives of the Committee declared: "I have never seen an attorney general defend the government of his country in such a way, when his role here is to present the situation of its independence."

Measures and decisions under your management

In 2018, a criminal investigation was opened against two footballers from the Zulia Fútbol Club for a video that was spread on social networks in which they appeared mistreating a cat.

In 2020, he proposes to the National Constituent Assembly a reform of the animal protection law in order to obtain more severe penalties for those who fail to comply.

In 2021, he asked to review the legislation on sexual abuse as a result of the criminal investigations he ordered against musicians, theater directors and writers involved in cases of sexual violence against minors that were reported on social networks. Among The accused were Alejandro Soto (Los Colores), Leonardo Jaramillo (Okills), José Rafael Briceño, Daniel Landaeta (Le Cinema), Murachi Palomo, Tony Maestracci (Tomates Fritos), Juan Carlos Ogando (Skena Teatro), José Pepe Arceo (Ant Productions) and the writer Willy Mckey. The latter committed suicide in the city of Buenos Aires a few hours after his case caused public notoriety. Likewise, he obtained the suspension of a bullfight in the city of Maracay for considering it "a public slaughter of animals.

In 2022, he charged two prosecutors, two mayors and two Chavismo deputies for trafficking and smuggling gasoline, in the operation that was known as "Iron Hand." Opens investigations against businessmen and celebrities (such as Osmel Sousa) for environmental damage in the Canaima National Park due to a party held at the top of the Tepuy Kusari and called the ecclesiastical hierarchy accountable for the cases of sexual abuse of priests revealed in an investigation by the Washington Post. Also, he achieved the suspension of another bullfight as a measure to protect animals although he stated that the number of complaints of animal abuse decreased that year.

In 2023, it was announced that, during the first half of that year, more than 2,000 cases of sexual abuse of children and adolescents were recorded and 146 people were arrested for animal abuse. Also, since 2017, more More than 500 Venezuelan officials were convicted of human rights violations. More than sixty people were charged with embezzling more than five billion dollars from PDVSA, Corporación Venezolana de Guayana (CVG) and Cartones de Venezuela in the corruption case. known as PDVSA Cripto (which meant the fall of the Minister of Petroleum, Tareck El Aissami) of which, more than twenty were put on trial for treason, appropriation or distraction of public assets, boasting or availing themselves of relationships or influences, money laundering and association. At the same time, he carried out the arrest of Mayor Ernesto Paraqueima who was accused of hate crimes against autistic children.

Sanctions

Saab has been sanctioned by several countries and is prohibited from entering neighboring Colombia. The Colombian government maintains him on a list of people prohibited from entering Colombia or subject to expulsion; In January 2019, the list had 200 people with "close relationships and support for the Nicolás Maduro regime." In July 2017, the United States sanctioned thirteen senior Venezuelan government officials, including Saab, associated with the presidential elections. Venezuelan Constituent Assembly of 2017 for its role in "undermining democracy and human rights."

Canada sanctioned 40 Venezuelan officials, including Saab, in September 2017. The sanctions were for behavior that "undermined democracy" after at least 125 people were killed in the 2017 Venezuelan protests and "in response to the Venezuelan government's descent deeper into dictatorship." Canadians were prohibited from transacting with the forty people, whose Canadian assets were frozen.

The European Union sanctioned seven Venezuelan officials, including Saab, on January 18, 2018, and identified them as responsible for the deterioration of democracy in the country. The sanctioned people were prohibited from entering the nations of the European Union and its assets were frozen. Switzerland implemented sanctions, freezing the assets of seven ministers and senior officials, including Saab, due to human rights violations and the deterioration of the rule of law and democracy.

In 2017, the administration of US President Donald Trump sanctioned Saab in July, along with 12 other Venezuelan officials, for alleged human rights violations. Saab received the sanction as a decoration, stating that it was a sanction to his trajectory and anti-imperialist struggle.

Controversies

The figure of Saab has generated debates and speculation. He has been linked by opposition sectors to an alleged radical Arab wing within the Government, alleging that he supports and finances radical groups in the Middle East. A tattoo behind his left ear that says 'Allah is Great' in Arabic characters has intensified these suspicions, although Saab has never shown a marked interest in religious topics.

Yibram Saab, a 22-year-old law student and son of Tarek William Saab, Ombudsman in Venezuela, condemned the brutal repression by the nation's security forces. His statement came after he himself became a victim of violence during the protests, reflecting the tragic fate of 20-year-old student Juan Pablo Pernalete. Pernalete was fatally injured by the use of tear gas after being hit in the chest during protests in Altamira, Miranda. In an emotional message, Yibram expressed:

"I condemn the brutal repression by the security forces of the nation, of which I was a victim today... That could have been me. Finally, I direct myself directly to my dad: Dad, at this time you have the power to put an end to the injustice that has sunk the country. I ask you as a son and in the name of Venezuela, to which you serve, to reflect and do what you have to do. I understand, I know it's not easy, but it's right. "

Through his Twitter account, Saab regretted the death of Juan Pablo Pernalete and promised to punish those responsible. In response to the video published by Yibram Saab, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, son of the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, published a letter on his Twitter account:

"Your 3 minutes of fame may have been something else... I invite you to reflect because we are raised by great human beings... Those who marched next to you today are using your father's love to manipulate the country, your pressure on a free man like Tarek William Saab is the desire for family disunity of those who want to destroy the homeland."

Protests in Venezuela have left 28 dead to date, following the ruling issued by the Supreme Court of Justice of Venezuela on March 30, which intensified the country's already deep institutional crisis. Demonstrations continued in the streets despite social problems and shortages of basic products. The opposition parties demand four measures: the disqualification of Supreme Court judges, free elections as soon as possible, the release of imprisoned politicians such as Leopoldo López, and humanitarian aid for food and medicine in Venezuela. The point of disqualification corresponds to the Ombudsman's Office, so the marches are directed there to request a response from its owner, Tarek William Saab.

Literary career

He began writing poetry at the age of fourteen, when he was studying at the Liceo Briceño Méndez in El Tigre, Anzoátegui, publishing poems in the newspaper Antorcha of that city. In the 80s, his poems reached the pages of Literary Paper of El Nacional. The influence of the American poets of the beat generation, such as Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and the hippie counterculture movement, were influential in the beginnings of the poetry of Tarek William Saab, as well as the readings of the German novelist Herman Hesse. He has edited twelve books.

In 1993 he was selected by a jury to represent Venezuela in the “Literature and Commitment Forum” held in Mollina/Málaga (Spain). His book "Los Niños del Infortunio" It was written after being invited by Cuban President Fidel Castro, during an interview he conducted in 2005 in Havana, to visit the Cuban medical mission in Pakistan. He appeared at the book fair in the Cuban capital the following year, with the presence of Castro and Hugo Chávez. Chávez nicknamed him The Poet of the Revolution.

Published books

• The rivers of wrath (Caracas, 1987).
• The Axe of Saints (Caracas, 1992).
• Prince of rain and mourning (Caracas, 1992).
• Al Fatah (Mexico, 1994).
• Angel Fallen Angel (Caracas, 1998).
• Heaven at half asta (Argentina, 2001. Venezuela, 2003. Cuba, 2003).
• When the wagons pass (Caracas, 2004).
• Selected Poems (Colombia, 2005)
• The children of misfortune (Cuba, 2006. China, 2007).
• Memories of Gulan Rubani (Caracas, 2007).
• A boreal landscape (Valencia, 2008. Caracas, 2009).
• Hoguera of a timeless adolescence (Caracas, 2022)