Background
Human Rights Campaign (HRC) released a report that Lebanese Military Intelligence forcibly disappeared and allegedly tortured detainees involved in the country’s January protests against the COVID-19 lockdown and deteriorating economic conditions in Tripoli.
At least 35 people, including 2 children, were charged with terrorism, forming criminal associations, and stealing public property, as well as other charges on 22 February 2021. Of those arrested, 4 people remain in detention, 19 have been released, and 12 people have yet to be identified upon refusal of the authorities to do so. While detained, the prison was reported to have inhumane conditions.
HRC has condemned these charges are “inherently unfair” and not permitted under international law. The organizations spoke with several sources, including detainees, families, lawyers, a judicial source and a Police Commander. In their report, they state that “one family member said that her son, then 15, was tortured into confessing into crimes he did not commit.”
“Lebanese authorities should address the legitimate grievances of people in Tripoli, but instead they’ve escalated repression against a population fighting for a dignified life,” said Aya Majzoub, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The government needs to answer for disappearing and any torture of detainees and drop all unsubstantiated terrorism charges against them.”
It has been reported that all but 4 detainees, who were summoned to the Defense Ministry, were interrogated without a lawyer present violating the country’s Code of Criminal Procedure. Although Lebanon passed an anti-torture law in 2017, there have been many routinely reported incidents of torture.
Source: Human Rights Campaign
AK Wilson – a freelance journalist based out of the United States
