On 22 August 2016, Layal Al Kayaje, a 31-year-old Palestinian veterinary residing in Saida, port city in South Lebanon, was sentenced to one month in prison by the Military Court of Beirut for "defamation and libel against the Lebanese army" because she publicly denounced her rape by military officers when she was detained in 2013. Considering that speaking out against her rape should in no way constitute a crime, on 16 June 2016, Alkarama had called upon the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression (SR FREEDEX), David Kaye, to urge the Lebanese authorities to drop all charges against her and open an investigation into her allegations of torture.
On 11 August 2016, Alkarama together with nine Lebanese human rights organisations sent a letter to the Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Gebran Bassil, to call upon him to accept the request made by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers (SR IJL) Mónica Pinto to visit Lebanon in 2016.
On 23 June 2016 at 1 am, Malaz Asaad was released from the premises of the General Security in Adlieh, Beirut. He had been missing for almost one month. Welcoming his release, on 24 June 2016 Alkarama informed the United Nations Working Group on Enforced Disappearances (WGEID), to which it had submitted Malaz's disappearance on 17 June 2016.
On 26 May 2016, the Juvenile Court of North Lebanon sitting in Tripoli ordered the release of Syrian baker Malaz Asaad, pending final determination of the length of his sentence. Handed over to the General Security the following day to implement the Court's decision, Malaz was however never set free and is disappeared since.
On 29 June 2016, Layal Al Kayaje, a 31-year-old Palestinian resident in the port city of Saida, South Lebanon, and veterinary, will stand her first hearing before the Military Court in Beirut for "defamation and libel against the Lebanese army". These charges were laid down because she publicly denounced her rape by military officers when she was detained in 2013.