LBN 001 / 0518 / OBS 063
Arbitrary detention
Lebanon
May 16, 2018
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Lebanon.
Brief description of the information:
The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the arbitrary arrest and detention of Mr. Ghassan Abdullah, General Director of the Palestinian Human Rights Organization (PHRO).
According to the information received, on the morning of May 14, 2018, Mr. Ghassan Abdullah presented himself to the Lebanese General Security after being summoned for “security investigation”. Since then, he has only been allowed to contact his mother once in order to ask her to get him his medicine, which he has received through the NGO Caritas.
It has been reported that Mr. Ghassan Abdullah would have since been transferred to the Ministry of Defense’s premises in Yarzeh, southeast of Beirut.
The Observatory strongly condemns the arbitrary detention of Mr. Abdullah, which only aims at silencing his peaceful and legitimate human rights activities.
Moreover, the Observatory expresses particular concerns as the health of Mr. Abdullah is very fragile and he cannot tolerate any pressure or detention. As a consequence, his continued detention and any hindrance into his daily medicines for chronic diseases would pose a serious threat to his life.
The Observatory urges the Lebanese authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Ghassan Abdullah. In the meanwhile, the Observatory urges the Lebanese authorities to take any step to ensure Mr. Ghassan Abdullah’s physical and psychological integrity.
Actions requested:
Please write to the authorities in Lebanon, urging them to:
i. Ensure Mr. Ghassan Abdullah’s physical and psychological integrity;
ii. Immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Ghassan Abdullah as his detention is arbitrary and only aims at silencing his peaceful and legitimate human rights activities;
iii. Put an end to all forms of harassment against Mr. Ghassan Abdullah and all human rights defenders in Lebanon;
iv. Comply with all the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 9, 1998, in particular with its Articles 1, 5(b), and 12.2;
v. Ensure in all circumstances the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and with international human rights instruments ratified by Lebanon.
Addresses:
·Mr. Saad Hariri, Prime Minister, Grand Serail, Beirut, Lebanon. Fax: + 961 (0)1-983060
·Mr. Salim Jreissati, Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice, Adlieh, Beirut, Lebanon. Fax: +961 (0)1-612564
·Mr. Nouhad Machnouk, Minister of Interior, Ministry of Interior, Sanayeh, Beirut, Lebanon. Fax: +961 (0)1-751622
·Permanent Mission of Lebanonto the United Nations in Geneva, rue de Moillebeau 58, 1209 Geneva, Switzerland. E-mail: mission.lebanon@ties.itu.int, Fax : +41 22 791 85 80
·Embassy of Lebanon in Brussels, rue G. Stocq, 2 1050 Brussels, Belgium. E-mail: ambassade.liban@brutele.be, Fax: +32 2.645.77.69
Please also write to the diplomatic representations of Lebanon in your respective countries.
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Paris-Geneva, May 16, 2018
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 by the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and FIDH. The objective of this programme is to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights defenders. OMCT and FIDH are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society.
To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:
• E-mail: Appeals@fidh-omct.org
• Tel and fax OMCT + 41 (0) 22 809 49 39 / + 41 22 809 49 29
• Tel and fax FIDH: + 33 (0) 1 43 55 25 18 / +33 1 43 55 18 80