These people were all arrested by elements from the  Directorate General of Internal Security Forces and are being subjected to legal proceedings before the Beirut Military Tribunal, even though they are not part of the military. Additionally, the facts with which they appear to be charged do not constitute military infractions.

All these arrests took place without a judicial mandate and without a reason being given. They were all carried out by members of Internal Security Forces in civilian clothing.

All the persons mentioned above were detained incommunicado and in isolation for 5 months in the quarters of the internal security services which operate under the authority of the Ministry of the Interior.

They report having suffered torture, insults and ill-treatment. Certain of them suffer from the consequences of these acts of torture. They were only able to have contact with their families or a lawyer after two months from their arrest.

The detainees all report having been forced to sign declarations under torture which are intended to be used as incriminating evidence during their trial. If these ‘confessions' are taken into account by the military tribunal, they will be used to sentence the victims to long prison sentences.

Alkarama has obtained information that the trials are to take place in early 2009, but no date has officially been decided for the final hearing.

List of concerned individuals:

1.Amer Abdullah Hallak, 25 years old, Palestinian national from Lebanon, mechanical engineer, arrested on 30 December 2005 in Sidon, then detained at the Al Bastah police station before being transferred to the quarters of the intelligence services in Beirut for a period of 5 months. Following a hunger strike, he was transferred on 31 May 2006 to Roumieh prison

2. Bora Mohammed Fouad, 32 years old, Syrian, entrepreneur, living in Syria and Lebanon. He was arrested on 13 January 2006 in a public place in Beirut and detained incommunicado in the quarters of the intelligence services for 5 months in isolation in the basement before being transferred to Roumieh prison.

3. Faissal Asaad Hashim Akbar, 29 years old, Saudi student, arrested on 3 January 2006 in Beirut and detained incommunicado in the quarters of the intelligence services for 5 months in isolation in the basement before being transferred to Roumieh prison.

4. Fuad Ahmed Al Masir, 37 years old, Libyan salesperson, arrested on 30 January 2006 in Beirut and detained incommunicado in the quarters of the intelligence services for 5 months in isolation in the basement before being transferred to Roumieh prison. He was released on 4 September 2008.

5. Hani Hashim Al-Shanti, 26 years old, Lebanese of Jordanian origin, arrested on 1 January 2006 in Beirut and detained incommunicado in the quarters of the intelligence services for 5 months in isolation in the basement before being transferred to Roumieh prison.

6. Hassan Mohammed Nabah, 32 years old, Lebanese, graduate, arrested on 3 January 2006 and detained incommunicado in the quarters of the intelligence services for 5 months in isolation in the basement before being transferred to Roumieh prison.

7. Moaz Abdelghani Shousha, 26 years old, Syrian living in Syria, clothes salesman, arrested on 4 January 2006 in Tripoli. He was detained at the Al Bastah police stateion before being transferred to the quarters of the intelligence services in Beirut where he was kept in isolation in the basement for a period of five months. He was then transferred to Roumieh prison. He fears being extradited to Syria and disappearing as did Mr Hammad Turkey Al Rda (see 12th case).

8.Mohammed Abderrazzak Al-Wafael, 23 years old, Syrian student residing in Syria, arrested on 3 January 2006 in Beirut and detained incommunicado in the quarters of the intelligence services for 5 months in isolation in the basement before being transferred to Roumieh prison. He fears being extradited to Syria and disappearing as did Mr Hammad Turkey Al Rda (see 12th case).

9.Mohammed Ahmed Qoja, 22 years old, Syrian student living in Syria, arrested on 3 January 2006 in Beirut and detained incommunicado in the quarters of the intelligence services for 5 months in isolation in the basement before being transferred to Roumieh prison. He fears being extradited to Syria and disappearing as did Mr Hammad Turkey Al Rda (see 12th case).

10.Malik Mohammed Nabah, 25 years old, Lebanese, salesperson, arrested on 3 January 2006 opposite to his home in Beirut and detained incommunicado in the quarters of the intelligence services for 5 months in isolation in the basement before being transferred to Roumieh prison.

11. Tareq Rajaa Nasser, 30 years old, Syrian national living in Syria, arrested on 3 January 2006 in Beirut and detained incommunicado in the quarters of the intelligence services for 5 months in isolation in the basement before being transferred to Roumieh prison. He fears being extradited to Syria and disappearing as did Mr Hammad Turkey Al Rda (see 12th case).

12. Hamad Turkey Al-Rda, 33 years old, Syrian national living in Beirut, arrested on 16 January 2006 in Beirut and detained incommunicado in the quarters of the intelligence services for 5 months in isolation in the basement before being transferred to Roumieh prison. He was extradited to Syria and has since disappeared.

Alkarama has contacted the Special Rapporteur on Torture to request him to:

• Intervene with the Lebanese government to remind it of its obligations with regards the Convention Against Torture which it ratified on 11 October 1989, and to ensure that all declarations made under torture cannot be invoked as proof in a legal procedure.
• remind the government that it cannot extradite persons to countries where they are exposed to a risk of torture. He should also request an inquiry into the disappearance of Mr Al-Rda after his removal to Syria.