Articles for Lebanon

Lebanon: Maher Sukkar held incommunicado and tortured - risks death penalty in unfair trial

On his way home from class on 18 April 2009, Maher Sukkar, a 29 year-old Palestinian refugee, was arrested by agents of the Information Branch of the Internal Security Forces (ISF) in Sabra, Beirut. He was held incommunicado for a total of 18 days until 6 May 2009. At first held at the ISF Directorate, he was then moved to several detention centers until being brought to the Ministry of Defence in Yarzeh on 28 April 2009. He was then subjected to two days of brutal torture aimed at extracting false confessions from him.
18 Mar 2010
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Lebanon: Investigate Seizure of Human Rights Lawyer's Passport

General Security Held Nizar Saghieh's British Passport Until Minister Intervened

Beirut - The Lebanese government should investigate the seizure of a human rights lawyer's passport by General Security, a group of 16 Lebanese and international human rights organizations said today.

08 Mar 2010
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Lebanon: Free Foreign Prisoners When Sentences End

Continued Detention Not Based on Judicial or Administrative Orders

Beirut - Lebanon should release migrants and refugees who remain in detention despite having finished their sentences, a group of 14 Lebanese and international human rights organizations said yesterday in a letter to top officials. The letter to the president, prime minister and justice and interior ministers says there is no legal basis for continuing to detain most of these prisoners.

25 Feb 2010
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Lebanon: UN subcommittee on prevention of torture visits Lebanon

Today, 4 February 2010, the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture begins its visit to Lebanon. Alkarama will be participating in the workshops and meetings organized by the OHCHR in Lebanon in the framework of this visit. Alkarama has already submitted to the Subcommittee specific information about the conditions in prisons and in particular the grave issue of torture in Lebanon.

Lebanon ratified the Convention against Torture (CAT) in 2000 and the Optional Protocol to the Convention (OPCAT) in December 2008.

04 Feb 2010
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Lebanon: Egyptian refugee dies in Rashaya prison under unclear circumstances

On the morning of 25 January 2010, local newspapers in Lebanon reported news of the death of an UNHCR-recognized Egyptian refugee by the name of Mahmoud Salama (56) in Rashaya prison on 23 January 2010. He died after suffering a heart attack according to security reports.

Several human rights organizations were heavily shocked by this tragic news.

29 Jan 2010
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Lebanon: Government Misses UN Deadline on Torture Prevention - Consider Proposal Commissioned by Justice Ministry

(Beirut, 23 December 2009) - Lebanon has missed a 22 December 2009, deadline for setting up a national institution to prevent torture, a group of Lebanese and international human rights organizations said today.
23 Dec 2009
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Lebanon : Three Syrians, one Lebanese national tortured

Early today, Alkarama submitted the cases of four torture victims to the special Rapporteur on Torture. Two of the four detainees have not yet received a final judgment and concerns are that false confessions extracted under torture may be used during their trials.

The cases concern the following four individuals:

1. Mr Mustafa Seo, a Syrian national, 26, is a resident of Achrafieh, Karem al-Zaytoune, Beirut. Mr Seo is currently on trial.

27 Oct 2009
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Lebanon: Secret detention and torture for Hashash brothers

Amer Hashash and his brother Mosbah Hashash were arrested on 16 November 2007 by agents of the intelligence services of the Directorate General of Internal Security Forces and were held incommunicado for 3 months during which they were victims of torture.
27 Apr 2009
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Lebanon: Hearing on 24 April 2009 for 5 Syrians threatened with extradition

Al-Karama learned that five Syrian nationals arrested on 3 and 4 January 2006 by the Directorate General of Internal Security Forces will be tried and probably convicted today, 24 April 2009. It is feared that they will be deported to Syria where they risk torture and enforced disappearance.

Al-Karama questioned the Lebanese authorities on 3 April 2009 in letters sent to Said Merza, the Prosecutor-General; Dr. Ibrahim Najjar, the Minister of Interior; Mr.

24 Apr 2009
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Lebanon : Incommunicado and torture during 35 days for Mr Fadi Sabunah

Alkarama submitted a communication on 26 January 2009 to the Special Rapporteur on Torture asking him to intervene in the case of Mr Fadi Sabunah. Arrested on 5 October 2008, he was detained incommunicado for 35 days during which time he was tortured in order to extract a ‘confession' from him.

Mr Fadi Anwar SABUNAH, 23 years old, lives in Tripoli. He was arrested without a judicial warrant on 5 October 2008 by the Palestinian Joint Security Committee in Beddawi, in North Lebanon before being transferred to the Lebanese Army Intelligence.

26 Jan 2009
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