Articles for Lebanon

Lebanon: Secret Detentions Following the Clashes in Saida

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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.
05 Jul 2013
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Lebanon: UN Special Rapporteur on Torture updated on Tarek Rabaa's situation

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Investigate torture allegations, release Tarek Rabaa pending trial

Tarek Rabaa, a Lebanese engineer detained since July 2010 on conspiracy charges, will again be brought before the military court next Friday, 7 June.

05 Jun 2013
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Lebanon: Two weeks of hunger strike for Mr. Tarek Rabaa

LEB_Tarek_RabaaHuman rights organizations demand his immediate release

Mr. Tarek Rabaa has been on hunger strike for 2 weeks. The undersigned organizations demand his immediate release pending trial, which would effectively end the excessive period of pre-trial detention for which he has been held.

15 May 2013
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Lebanon : Imminent extradition of Syrian deserter following order from Military court of Beirut

Mohamad Hassan Tlass, a former officer of the Syrian Air Force Intelligence Services, was arrested by Lebanese security services on 6 December 2012. He reportedly defected from the Syrian army in August 2011 and is today facing imminent extradition to Syria following a decision issued on 4 February 2013 by the Beirut Military Court. If he is forcible returned, he risks being tortured and executed for desertion.
12 Feb 2013
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Lebanon: Risk of unfair trial for the Nahr Al Bared detainees

Following the events of Nahr Al Bared in 2007, several hundred persons were arrested on suspicion of belonging to, or having ties with, the Islamist group Fatah Al Islam. Six years after the incident, the Lebanese authorities have now announced the beginning of their trial in form of preliminary hearings for tomorrow, 8 February 2013. After this excessive period of pre-trial detention, during which many inmates report having been tortured, it is the Lebanese Judicial Council, a court of exception, who will hear their case.
07 Feb 2013
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Lebanon: UN Working Group calls for immediate release of woman inmate from Baabda prison

When Mrs Badria Abu Meri was arrested in May 2010, media reported that she had been taken into custody for her own protection although she was in fact summoned on alleged implication in a crime. Years later, she remains in Baabda prison – after being tortured and held without sentence for over 32 months.
24 Jan 2013
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Lebanon: Human Rights Organizations Demand the Lebanese authorities to put an end to Security Agencies' violations against foreigners

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.
18 Oct 2012
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Lebanon: Human Rights Organizations urge the Lebanese authorities to stop referring civilians to the Military Court

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.
17 Aug 2012
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Lebanon: The authorities should guarantee independence for the investigation on the case of two Sunni clerics killed by the army

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.
08 Aug 2012
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Lebanon: 3rd year of detention without trial of a female inmate in Baabda prison

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.

13 Jul 2012
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