Alkarama had raised its concerns about the situation of Syrian refugees arrested and illegally detained by the Lebanese security forces on 30 May 2011. Concerns raised with the United Nations included the risk that those found guilty would be forcibly returned to Syria, where they might have been at risk of torture.  This would have been in violation of Lebanon's international obligations relating to refugee protection.

Alkarama commends the Lebanese authorities for this action, which the local population and international community had called for. In releasing Syrian refugees, Lebanon has respected its international obligations regarding the rights of refugees and ban on refoulement laid out in international customary law and the Convention against Torture ratified by Lebanon.

We hope that the Lebanese authorities will continue this positive trend, and we now call on the recently-named Government to allow for the visit of the Human Rights Council-mandate Fact-Finding Mission on Syria to the country.