Lebanon: Secret Detentions Following the Clashes in Saida

Following the outbreak of clashes in Saida on 23 and 24 June, which lead to numerous casualties, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) conducted searches in the city and its surroundings. During these operations, at least 140 individuals were arrested and at least 27 remain currently in detention. Alkarama was informed that the families of two of the detained, Ahmad and Jamal*, have not had any news of their relatives while the testimonies of men who were released fuel fears that they may currently be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhumane of degrading treatment.

The account of Ahmad's relative is similar to what Ali*, arrested the on the same day at a military check point and released on 27 June, reports. He recounts that he was violently beaten with fists and boots on all parts of his body, including his head, that a member of the armed forces stubbed out his cigarette on his back and that he was insulted and humiliated while in detention. Thus pressured, he was forced to sign statements.

Jamal* is also said to have left his home in the afternoon of 24 June. The only information regarding his fate that his family members received since that day was provided to them by a released detainee as well. The witness reported to them that he had been detained with Jamal at the Military Intelligence's facilities of Zgheib as well as the Ministry of Defence. The family of Jamal is particularly worried because the man was reluctant to describe the state of Jamal when he met him.

As long as Jamal, Ahmad and any other persons arrested following the clashes in Saida remain detained in secret, we have reason to fear for their lives as well as their physical and mental integrity. Yesterday, Alkarama submitted the cases of Jamal and Ahmad to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, soliciting his urgent intervention, and asking the Lebanese authorities to take all necessary steps to prevent that they be tortured, to ensure that they be allowed to contact their families and a lawyer of their choosing immediately and to place them under the protection of the law or to release them.

Alkarama recalls that the Lebanese authorities ratified the UN Convention against Torture, and thereby accepted the obligation to carry out prompt, impartial and effective investigations into all allegations of torture and that they agreed that no exceptional circumstances can be advanced to justify violations of the Convention.