Press Release
Syrian Opposition Coalition
Department of Media and Communications
November 5, 2024
The Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) condemns the discriminatory policies adopted by certain Lebanese official bodies toward Syrian refugees, as well as the Lebanese military judiciary’s handling of Syrian refugees’ rights to freedom and life. This comes after the Lebanese Military Court downgraded the charge of killing Syrian refugee Bashar Abdel Saud from a felony to a misdemeanor and sentenced the defendants to prison terms ranging from two months to eighteen months. This verdict follows two years since the victim’s death under torture during interrogation by Lebanese State Security officers, contradicting Lebanese law itself by classifying the crime based on the victim’s nationality. This stands in blatant violation of both local and international criminal law standards.
The SOC stresses the need for the Lebanese government, its representative to the Military Court, and the Public Prosecutor to intervene to rectify this ruling by appealing the verdict. Such actions would correct the course of justice, ensure the fair application of the law, and secure justice for the victim. This includes guaranteeing the integrity of legal procedures, respect for legal rights, non-discrimination, and the pursuit of justice in the case of Bashar Abdel Saud. The SOC urges the Lebanese government to uphold the Convention Against Torture, which Lebanon has ratified, as well as the Anti-Torture Law, alongside fundamental principles of international laws and conventions protecting basic human rights without discrimination. Furthermore, it calls for protection of the rights of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, given the lack of a safe environment for their return to Syria due to the ongoing oppressive practices by the Syrian regime and its affiliated militias, which continue to commit abuses against Syrians fleeing the war in Lebanon.
The SOC calls upon the international community, the United Nations, and international human rights organizations to promptly intervene to safeguard the rights and well-being of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. It urges cooperation with Lebanese authorities to implement legal measures that prevent any entity from violating the rights of Syrian refugees, especially considering their adherence to Lebanese laws and their refraining from any actions that could harm the Lebanese state.
