Articles for Lebanon

Lebanon: Seven men severely tortured while in custody of security forces

On 1 November 2010, Alkarama sent seven new torture cases to the Special Rapporteur on Torture. The seven cases allegedly took place between 2006 and 2010. All the victims were under-25 and one of them was only 17. Six of the seven victims are accused of having links to terrorist cells inside Lebanon, while only one of them is held on regular criminal charges.

The victims were tortured by agents from the Information Branch and the Judicial Police of the Internal Security forces and several military intelligence officers.

01 Nov 2010

Lebanon: Human Rights Council Reviews Lebanon

The Human Rights Council meets on 9 November 2010 to proceed with the Universal Periodic Review of Lebanon. Alkarama presented a report in this context.

- Lebanon's National Report

- Report on Lebanon prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

31 Oct 2010

Lebanon: Prisoners held under cruel conditions in Roumieh Prison

Since 8 November 2009, more than 30 prisoners are still detained under inhumane conditions in E Block of the Juvenile Building, Roumieh Central Prison.
This section holds prisoners arrested and convicted on "terrorism" charges; most of them are of Syrian, Tunisian, Algerian, Saudi, or Palestinian nationalities, as well as some Lebanese prisoners.

25 Oct 2010

Lebanon: Israeli military unit arrest and torture Lebanese shepherd

Today Alkarama, a Geneva-based human rights organisation, and the Beirut-based Khiam Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture sent a communication to the Special Rapporteur on Torture requesting his intervention with the Israeli occupation authorities to launch an immediate investigation into the torture of Imad Atawi in June.

06 Oct 2010

Lebanon: Human Rights Groups Call for Draft Torture Law Approval

On Thursday 22 July 2010, in an open letter addressed to the Lebanese Minister of Justice, Dr.

23 Jul 2010

Lebanon: FREED - Fabi Sabunah released on 31 March 2010

On the evening of 31 March 2010, Lebanese authorities released Fadi Sabunah after nearly two years arbitrary detention. The investigative judge responsible for case related to the events that occurred in the Nahr Al-Bared refugee camp in 2008. During his 18 month detention, Fadi Sabunah was detained incommunicado and tortured for 35 consecutive days. He was then subsequently interrogated and tried by both civilian and military judges.

12 Apr 2010

Lebanon: Mustafa Sayw and Kamal Al-Na'san trial adjourned to 18 June 2010

Today, 9 April 2010, the Justice Council Court concluded the trials of Mustafa Sayw and Kamal Al-Na'san; two of four persons whose cases Alkarama brought to the attention of the Special Rapporteur on Torture on 27 October 2009. It is feared that confessions extracted under torture were used against them in the trial.

09 Apr 2010

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

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

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