Skip to main content
Illegal and racist practices against foreign workers or refugees in Lebanon are on the rise. The latest example in this regard took place on the evening of 7 October as members of the Lebanese Army raided the homes of 70 Syrian, Egyptian and Sudanese workers in Beirut in response to a complaint by some residents against these workers of "harassing the girls and disturbing the residents". The workers were beaten during the raid.
Assaulting individuals and their privacy is totally unacceptable regardless of whether it was done by nationals or foreigners.
Following the preliminary investigations with former Minister Michel Samaha, suspected of plotting terrorist attacks in Lebanon, carried out this past week, his case was referred to the Military Tribunal.
On 20 May, Ahmad Abdulwahed, a Sunni religious figure known for his political support of the Syrian opposition, and Mohammad al Mereb were shot dead by soldiers from the Lebanese Military at a check point at the entrance to Kwaikhat, northern Lebanon. This incident rekindled tensions in the north which were already shaken up by the recent violent clashes between supporters and opponents of the Syrian regime.

When Mrs Badria Abu Meri was arrested in May 2010, media reported that she had been taken into custody for her own protection. Several weeks before the arrest, a mob lynched a man accused of murder in Mrs Abu Meri's hometown and, as many believed she had instigated the latter to carry out the gruesome homicide, it was said that she might be the object of further acts of self-administered justice. However, it is now apparent that she was in fact quite simply arrested and detained without any legal basis.

Update: Youssef Al-Ghantawi was released on 12 June by the General Security services and given 48 hours to leave Lebanon.
 
On 6 May 2012, Youssef Al Ghantawi, a Syrian national was arrested at his home in Meshary Al Qaa, Lebanon. The 21-year-old was then transferred to the General Security's retention centre in Adlieh district, Beirut.
Alkarama is deeply concerned about the situation of seven Syrian nationals who had served sentences in Lebanese prisons and of whom three were already expelled to Syria following the expiry of their prison terms. These three men are now believed to be held by the Syrian Military Intelligence in its Palestine detention centre, a detention centre known for systematic torture and ill-treatment of inmates as well as exceptionally inhumane detention conditions.
Alkarama is deeply concerned about the situation of seven Syrian nationals who had served sentences in Lebanese prisons and of whom three were already expelled to Syria following the expiry of their prison terms. These three men are now believed to be held by the Syrian Military Intelligence in its Palestine detention centre, a detention centre known for systematic torture and ill-treatment of inmates as well as exceptionally inhumane detention conditions.
On 12 May 2012, Shadi Al Mawlawi, a Lebanese national known to support the Syrian opposition as well as Syrian refugees in Lebanon, was arrested in Tripoli. The 25-year-old merchant of office furniture now faces a military trial based on terrorism charges.
Mahmoud Al Adawi was arbitrarily arrested on the orders of a judge at the Beirut military court on Monday, 23 April 2012. He is currently held at Al Qubba prison in Northern Lebanon, where he was brought the day following his arrest. Alkarama fears that he is at high risk of torture.

On Friday, 20 April 2012, 32-yaer-old Mr Al Adawi received summons ordering him to appear at the military court in Beirut on Monday, 23 April 2012, as a witness on a case. It was not specified what kind of case he was to be questioned about.

Alkarama representative in Lebanon: Saadeddine Shatila
Today, Saadeddine Shatila, Alkarama's representative in Lebanon can return to his work assisting victims of human rights violations and lobbying for the authorities to respect their Human Rights obligations.