Press release
Syrian Opposition Coalition – Syria
Department of Media and Communications
October 05, 2020
The death of a Syrian prisoner in Roumieh prison in Lebanon due to negligence and the absence of preventive measures requires direct intervention by international organizations to save the rest of prisoners, looking into the circumstances of the imprisonment of Syrian nationals in Lebanon, and ascertain the prisoners’ rights and safety measures, especially in light of the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Keeping prisoners in these disastrous conditions is an inhumane, immoral act as well as represents violation of international law.
Rights groups confirmed the death of Syrian citizen Mahmoud Farah in Roumieh prison. He is from the Qusayr region in Homs province. He was about to finish serving his sentence and be released. He suffered a long period of medical neglect and the deterioration of conditions inside the prisons, especially poor hygiene and malnutrition.
The Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) is closely following the conditions of more than 1,800 Syrian nationals who are held in extremely harsh conditions in Lebanese prisons. Many of them were subjected to unfair trials and received unjust sentences. Regardless of the backgrounds and causes for arrest, prisoners have the right to receive adequate protection and medical care. Negligence in providing healthcare is unacceptable and amounts to a crime.
Arbitrary arrests in Lebanon mut be brought to an end. Indefinite detention and pretrials need to be addressed. Lebanese authorities also need to conduct an urgent review of the sentences issued against prisoners and to release prisoners who do not pose a threat to society, especially the Syrian nationals who are close to finish serving their sentences.
The SOC renews its calls on international human rights organizations and the International Committee of the Red Cross to urgently dispatch monitors to Roumieh prison and the rest of the Lebanese prisons to ascertain the conditions inside and ensure the safety of prisoners.
