
Demand release of Syrian political prisoners in Lebanon
Detained Syrians held in harsh conditions in Lebanon are demanding their release, asserting that the fall of the Bashar Assad dictatorship invalidates the terrorism-related charges against them, which were originally made due to their support for the opposition or affiliation with the rebel Free Syrian Army. Since the revolution began in 2011, hundreds of Syrian refugees have been detained in Lebanon, sometimes in relation to their supposed membership in armed groups, but often arbitrarily. Syrian inmates at Roumieh prison, east of Beirut, managed to get a message out to the new transitional government in Damascus earlier this year, appealing for intervention on their behalf. Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa raised the issue of “prisoners of conscience” in Lebanon during negotiations with the Lebanese government in February. But there has been no action since thenâdespite the fact that nearly 100 prisoners went on hunger strike to press the issue. Amnesty International has documented torture and other abuses at Roumieh, with Syrians being particularly targeted. (Photo via Facebook)