“Akhbar al-Yawm” agency

Lebanese Detainees in Syrian Prisons: A Humanitarian Crisis Demanding Urgent Action

Mahfoud to "Akhbar Al-Yawm": The file is just as important as implementing international resolutions

The issue of Lebanese detainees in Syrian prisons has re-emerged following the fall of the Assad regime, particularly after Syrian prisons were opened. However, despite the humanitarian importance of this file on multiple levels, the Lebanese government has yet to take any action, knowing that this issue is fundamentally humanitarian and separate from political and diplomatic relations with Damascus.

The head of the "Change Movement" party, lawyer Elie Mahfoud, who has been following the case for years, mentioned through the "Akhbar Al-Yawm" agency that he had highlighted the importance of going to Syria to gather information about the detainees. He emphasized that this file is not political, urging the new administration in Damascus to hand over a list of names containing 620 individuals, based on what Ahmed Al-Sharaa said: “If anyone has information, should present it to him”.

Mahfoud, who in June 2020, along with MP Eddy Abi Lamaa, filed a legal complaint before the Public Prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat against Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad regarding Lebanese detainees in Syrian prisons, stated: We demand the Lebanese state to cooperate in uncovering the truths, clarifying that the issue here does not stop at opening prisons, but also requires uncovering mass graves.

He added: “It can be said that the presence of living detainees is unlikely; even if there are undiscovered secret prisons, it is highly probable that those inside have died due to lack of food and water”. He noted that this file raises many legitimate and logical questions, such as: Where are the remains of these individuals? Were they executed, and where, in Lebanon or Syria, or if buried somewhere?

Mahfoud stressed the need for the Lebanese state to form a crisis cell, as committees are ineffective for such a critical and fundamental issue, clarifying that this crisis cell should include specialists in engineering, medicine, reinforced concrete, military experts, former detainees, representatives from the International Red Cross, and anyone who can help provide clear signals.

While acknowledging the lack of seriousness from the Lebanese government to date, Mahfoud argued that this file is as significant as implementing international resolutions related to Lebanon’s sovereignty, stating: “At the very least, we want the remains to declare their deaths and pray for their souls”, describing the ongoing negligence, whether intentional or unintentional, as a grave injustice to the families and those left abandoned.

Thus, Mahfoud concluded by reiterating his call for cooperation between the Lebanese government and the current Syrian administration although right now there is no intention to expand relations between the two sides, in order to initiate research and inquiries based on investigations and expertise.