Lebanon: Parliament Approves Law Instituting a National Human Rights Institution and a National Preventive Mechanism Against Torture
On 19 October 2016, the Lebanese Parliament approved a law creating an independent National Commission for Human Rights, Lebanon's National Human Rights Institution (NHRI), which includes a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), an independent body mandated to improve the conditions of those deprived of liberty by visiting places of detention. The law, that followed several recommendations issued by UN human rights mechanisms in that regard, finally provides Lebanon with two essential independent bodies supposed to enhance the protection and promotion of human rights.
Lebanon: Release on Bail of a Minor Tortured by the Military Intelligence
On 25 October 2016, Walid Diab, a 18-year-old Lebanese citizen from Tripoli, was released from the juvenile section of Roumieh prison where he was detained, following a release order issued the same day by the Juvenile Court in Tripoli. Arrested in 2014 when he was still a minor, Walid was accused for being a "member of a terrorist group" by the Military Court sitting in Beirut on the sole basis of information extracted under torture. Concerned over the arbitrary character of his detention, Alkarama had sent Walid's case to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) on 29 August 2016 demanding for its urgent intervention with the Lebanese authorities. His case was then transferred to the Juvenile Court in Tripoli in September 2016.
Lebanon: A 23-year-old Syrian Refugee Reappears After a Month of Disappearance by the Military Intelligence
On 22 September 2016, Mohamad Al Souki, a Syrian refugee arrested in late August in Sir El Danniyeh, north of Lebanon, by officers of the Military Intelligence for “not possessing a valid Lebanese residence permit”, reappeared after a month of disappearance. That day, upon information received by a former detainee, a notary public went to the premises of the military police at the Military Court in Beirut and received official confirmation by the authorities that Al Souki was held there. On 20 September 2016, Alkarama had sent his case to the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID).
Lebanon: A Minor Tortured by the Military Intelligence Prosecuted for “Terrorism”
On 12 September 2014, Walid Diab, 16 year old at the time, was arrested at a military checkpoint upon information of “secret informants”. Secretly detained for three months and severely tortured despite his young age, he is currently facing trial before the Military Court; his next hearing will be held on 26 September 2016. Concerned over the gravity of these violations suffered by a minor, Alkarama wrote to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) to demand the urgent intervention of the five UN experts with the Lebanese authorities to demand that Walid be released and his allegations of torture investigated.
Lebanon: Layal Al Kayaje Sentenced by the Military Court for Having Denounced Her Rape by Military Officers
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.
Lebanon: 10 Human Rights Organisations Call Upon the Authorities to Accept the Visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers
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.
Lebanon: Release of Syrian Citizen Disappeared from the General Security Premises in Beirut
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.
Lebanon: Disappearance of a Syrian Citizen from the General Security Premises in Beirut
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.
Lebanon: Layal Al Kayaje Facing Trial before Military Court for Having Spoken Up About Her Rape by Military Officers
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.
Lebanon: Lawyer Nabil Al Halabi Forced to Retract His Facebook Posts Criticising the Ministry of Interior
Between 30 May and 1 June 2016, Lebanese lawyer Nabil Al Halabi was detained by the Lebanese Internal Forces (ISF) following a complaint by the Ministry of Interior (MoI) against him for "libel and slander" because of a Facebook post Al Halabi published denouncing corruption of MoI officials.