Lebanon Forms Emergency Committee to Address Detainees in Syrian Prisons

Lebanon's acting Justice Minister, Henri Khoury, has announced the formation of an emergency committee dedicated to the issue of Lebanese detainees in Syrian prisons, intensifying its efforts and liaising with those released, according to Lebanon's National News Agency.

Khoury stated that the committee is investigating the cases of detainees from before 1992, emphasizing the need for cooperation with international organizations to gather information, assuring that the situation is actively being managed.

He revealed that most Syrian prisons have been opened, except for any potential secret detention facilities. The committee will listen to testimonies from released Lebanese prisoners to verify their accounts. According to the committee's data, there are currently 725 Lebanese detainees in Syrian prisons.

Khoury further noted that the Lebanese committee has not received any responses from its Syrian counterpart regarding its inquiries from 2005 to 2011. He mentioned that during a visit by former President Michel Aoun to Syrian official Ali Mamlouk, the response was that there were no detainees left.

Emergency Committee to Probe Lebanese Detainees in Syrian Jails"