Media outlets have reported that the Lebanese army resumed its arrest campaign against Syrian refugees in Lebanon on Thursday. A number of Syrian refugees in the town of Mansourieh in the Bekaa region were arrested with the intention of forcibly deporting them to areas controlled by the Assad regime on Thursday.
This development comes after the recent promises made by Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, in which he assured the delegation of the Association of Muslim Scholars in Lebanon that no registered refugee or displaced person with the United Nations High Commissioner can be forcibly deported, as it goes against international law.
General Aoun emphasized that the Lebanese army would provide Syrian refugees with an opportunity to resolve their legal status. He appointed a liaison officer to report any cases of transgression or deportation that may occur. He also highlighted the importance of the Association’s role in communicating with the general public and diffusing any crises.
Meanwhile, Brigadier General Elias Al-Bisari, the Acting Director General of Public Security, reiterated that it is impossible to deport any refugee or displaced person registered with the UNHCR. He promised to ease the restrictions and procedures required for refugees to obtain residency, facilitating the process as much as possible.
A few days ago, the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) condemned the continuous violations committed by the Lebanese government against Syrian refugees. The SOC expressed concern over arbitrary arrests and deportations to areas controlled by the Assad regime, which disregard the internationally recognized and stipulated rights of refugees. The Lebanese government’s actions demonstrate indifference to the imminent danger faced by refugees upon their return, it added.
The SOC emphasized that the actions taken by the Lebanese government represent the first step towards an impending crime, as they hand over victims to the executioner. It highlighted that all refugees fled the oppression of the Assad regime and the brutality of its security apparatus, which has engaged in arrests, torture, and even causing deaths.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
