President of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), Nasr al-Hariri, sent identical letters to the Lebanese Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Muhammad Fahmy, the Lebanese Minister of Justice, Marie-Claude Najm, and the Lebanese Minister of Health, Hamad Hassan regarding the situation of the Syrian prisoners in Roumieh prison amid fears of an outbreak of the coronavirus inside the facility.
Al-Hariri said that the number of Syrian prisoners infected with coronavirus is increasing, citing reports of violations of international and Lebanese laws against the inmates.
He pointed out that the lack of sufficient protective measures, sterilization, nutrition and healthcare in Lebanese prisons increases the concern for the safety of inmates. He warned of imminent risks of the spread of the virus from prisons to the Lebanese community.
He called for issuing a general amnesty for Syrian prisoners in Lebanon in line with recommendations by human rights and humanitarian organizations. (Source: SOC’s Media Department)
