هذه المقالة متاحة أيضًا بـ: العربية (Arabic)
The President of the National Human Rights Commission, including the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (NHRC-CPT), Dr. Fadi Gerges, held a meeting with Judge Jamal Hajar, the Public Prosecutor of Lebanon, and another meeting with the President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Chief Judge Suhail Abboud, to discuss the worsening repercussions of the Israeli aggression on Lebanon and its impact on prisoners and detainees.
Dr. Gerges discussed several key points with Hajar and Abboud, including:
- Escalating Israeli Aggression: Dr. Gerges addressed the growing and expanding Israeli aggression against Lebanon, reaching the capital, Beirut, and the war crimes and grave violations committed by Israeli occupation forces. These violations breach all rules related to the conduct of hostilities, with complete disregard for the protection provided by international humanitarian law to certain entities, including hospitals, civil defense centers, ambulances, emergency services, and relief organizations. This situation places detention centers and prisons in the potential line of fire.
- Transfer of Prisoners and Overcrowding in Prisons: Dr. Gerges emphasized the need to address the deteriorating conditions in Lebanese detention centers, which are witnessing unprecedented overcrowding following the transfer of prisoners and detainees from southern Lebanon and the Bekaa region to other prisons and police stations, exacerbating the suffering of prisoners, detainees, and their families.
- Displacement of Families: The meeting also addressed the challenges faced by thousands of families displaced by force who are unable to visit their imprisoned or detained loved ones, further increasing social and humanitarian challenges.
As part of the proposed solutions, Dr. Gerges stressed the importance of collective action to solve this crisis through collaboration and coordination between the Public Prosecution Office, the Supreme Judicial Council, the Ministries of Justice and Interior, and the Bar Associations in Beirut and Tripoli. He also called for practical steps to alleviate overcrowding in prisons.
To resolve these issues, Dr. Gerges proposed issuing a circular to judges of investigation and trial courts with the following suggestions:
- Accepting release requests via email or any online means.
- Considering the difficult economic conditions, facilitating the release of all detainees charged with misdemeanors with nominal bail amounts.
- Releasing all those who are legally eligible for release.
- Releasing all Arab and foreign detainees who do not have valid residency permits.
In accordance with Article 26 of Law No. 62/2016, which established the National Commission, Dr. Gerges noted that the Commission will submit its observations and recommendations to the relevant authorities to improve the conditions of individuals deprived of their freedom, ensure their humane treatment, and prevent their exposure to torture or inhumane or degrading treatment.
Dr. Gerges also affirmed that the National Human Rights Commission, including the Committee for the Prevention of Torture, will devote all its modest resources to help address this issue. He pointed out that the Commission will assign a team of lawyers to provide legal assistance to the families and detainees in submitting release requests and contribute to alleviating their suffering.
