Our organizations strongly denounce the arbitrary transfer of Faysal Moqalled from Roumieh Central Prison to the Ministry of Defense Detention Center for three days for intimidation purposes. On the morning of October 13, agents from the Ministry of Defense reportedly arrived in military vehicles in the central prison in Roumieh and would have taken Faysal Moqalled to the Ministry of Defense. The legal basis for this transfer is unknown ashis lawyer was not notified. Throughout the transportation, he would have been blindfolded with his head pushed down.
Kept for three days in the underground detention center of the Ministry of Defense on October 13, 14 and 15, Faysal Moqalled was allegedly interrogated for six hours, blindfolded, and according to available information, the questions focused on the allegations of torture he was subjected to which were made public by different human rights organizations. This investigation would have had a purpose of intimidation on a person whose trial on appeal is ongoing. Faysal Moqalled was reportedly slapped several times and would have received a punch in the back. His lawyer was not notified of his transfer and was therefore not attending the interrogation.
Faysal Moqalled, kidnapped in February 2006 by Hezbollah who allegedly held him for five months before handing him over to the military intelligence, would have already suffered severe torture and degrading detention conditions at the Ministry of Defense for 20 months before being transferred to Roumieh prison.
Faysal Moqalled, who allegedly suffers from severe asthma since the torture he suffered and has a concerning psychological situation, sees his health deteriorating day after day.
Our organizations strongly denounce the violations Faysal Moqalled was subjected to, and allegedly continues to suffer to this day, and remind Ministers of Justice, Interior and Defense of their obligation to protect detainees against torture and other forms of pressure and to ensure the physical and psychological integrity of Faysal Moqalled.
Signatories:
– ACAT-France (Action by Christians Against Torture)
– AEDH (Act Together for Human Rights)
– CLDH (Lebanese Center for Human Rights)
– FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights)
– EMHRN (Euro Mediterranean Human Rights Network)