Articles for Lebanon

Lebanon: 8 Syrians seeking refuge in Lebanon risk refoulement

In recent weeks, Lebanon witnessed the arrival of Syrian citizens escaping escalating violence in Syria. A large number of individuals living close to the Lebanese border (mainly from the Syrian city of Tal Kalakh) have fled into Lebanon, finding shelter in the country with relatives, host families and even in schools.

Estimations of Friday 20 May state that some 4000 people – including men, women and children - may have moved from Syria into northern Lebanon.

30 May 2011

Lebanon: four individuals at risk of death penalty following confessions extracted under torture

Four individuals who were tortured by agents of the Lebanese security forces, particularly during the period they were held incommunicado, face trial on 21 June 2011.

Alkarama is concerned that false confessions extracted under torture may be used during this hearing and has therefore submitted their cases to the Special Rapporteur on Torture and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions as they are at risk of the death penalty.

The four individuals on trial are:

30 May 2011

Lebanon: Human rights groups call on PM Mekati to address torture concerns

Ten Lebanese and international human rights NGOs sent an open letter to the Lebanese Prime Minister, Mr. Najib Mikati regarding the on-going issue of torture in Lebanon. The letter request that Lebanon implement its obligations under the Convention against Torture (CAT) and the Optional Protocol (OPCAT) of the CAT. The letter is a lead-up to PM Mikati's statement during the Human Rights Council session regarding Lebanon, which he will make on Friday 18 March 2011 in Geneva.

A copy of the letter was also sent to the human rights parliamentary committee.

14 Mar 2011

Lebanon / United States: Palestinian refugee rendered by US to Lebanon, trial marred by confessions extracted under torture

Ibrahim Ahmad Hamid, a 53-year-old Palestinian refugee, was arrested on 8 August 2008 in the United States for his alleged involvement in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, only to be forcibly returned to Lebanon on 25 May 2010 after 22 months in Henderson County Correctional Center in Kentucky, USA. The Lebanese authorities are currently trying him on charges of murder and "forming a terrorist group," for which he was tortured in order to extract false confessions. Alkarama fears that he will be heavily sentenced based on concocted confessions.

07 Mar 2011

Lebanon: 92 detained in Nahr Al-Bared affair since 2007

The Geneva-based Alkarama Foundation and the Union of Muslim Human Rights Activists in Lebanon addressed a detailed communication to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention regarding the arbitrary detention of 92 detainees held in Roumieh prison during the past three years.

The men were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the events which took place between May and September 2007 at the Nahr Al-Bared refugee camp, located in northern Lebanon some 20km from Tripoli.

17 Feb 2011

Alkarama commends the release of Mr Hassan Kayed, a Palestinian living in Lebanon. Mr Kayed was released following a court decision acquitting him on 31 December 2010.

21 Jan 2011

Lebanon: Kuwaiti Citizen Risks Torture if Extradited to Iraq

Alkarama has been informed that Mr Mohamed Al Dosari, a Kuwaiti citizen who he is currently detained in Lebanon, could be extradited to Iraq where he risks being torture.

09 Dec 2010

Youssef Kayed

Alkarama has learned of the forced return of Mr Youssef Kayed from Bulgaria to Lebanon last Saturday, 27 November 2010, where he risks torture and ill-treatment at the hands of the Lebanese authorities.

01 Dec 2010

Lebanon: Saudi detainee forced to sign confessions under torture

Mr Mohamed Al Swaid, was arrested on 17 November 2007, detained incommunicado and seriously tortured by the Information Branch (IB). Mr Al Swaid, a Saudi citizen aged 42, is married with four children and usually resides with his family in the Bchamoun area, south of Beirut.

Alkarama fears that Mr Al Swaid risks being heavily sentenced on the basis of a dossier containing confessions extracted under duress and through severe torture.

01 Dec 2010

Lebanon: Continued Practice of Torture by Security Forces

On 1 November 2010, Alkarama submitted seven new cases of torture in Lebanon to the newly appointed Special Rapporteur on Torture Mr. Juan Méndez. These seven cases took place between 2006 and 2010. All of these allegations are related to very young victims: one was 17 at the time of the violation and all were under 25. The victims include individuals accused of links to terrorist cells, but also one charged with common criminal accusations.

01 Nov 2010