Syrian and Lebanese detainees held at Roumieh prison announced plans to begin a comprehensive strike, escalating pressure on Lebanese authorities amid growing debate over stalled judicial files and deteriorating prison conditions. In a video message circulated from inside the prison, prisoners called for what they described as a collective and just solution that includes all detainees, regardless of nationality, and urged official institutions and rights organizations to intervene.
The statement was read by Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir, who appeared in the video delivering a letter on behalf of the prisoners. The detainees said the release of Syrian prisoners is a legitimate right and condemned what they described as great injustice inside correctional institutions. The letter said years of detention and waiting have been marked by the loss of justice, the erosion of rights and the destruction of humanity, adding that repeated appeals have been met with rejection and evasion of responsibility.
Health Conditions and Deaths in Custody
The prisoners also focused on medical conditions inside Roumieh, describing a steady decline in health care services. According to their statement, 44 prisoners died during the past year, with six additional deaths recorded since the beginning of this year. The detainees linked those deaths to inadequate medical attention and overcrowding, issues that have long drawn criticism from local and international rights groups.
Roumieh prison, Lebanon’s largest detention facility, holds a mix of Lebanese and foreign inmates, including a significant number of Syrians detained for security and criminal charges. The prison has repeatedly exceeded its intended capacity, intensifying pressure on infrastructure and medical services.
Judicial Talks Show Signs of Progress
While detainees escalated their protest, Lebanese judicial sources signaled progress in a parallel track. Officials said negotiations between Beirut and Damascus over the extradition of Syrian convicts are nearing completion, following years of legal and technical disputes. According to Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, the breakthrough came after intensive consultations between Lebanese and Syrian judicial committees, including a recent virtual meeting held via Zoom finalizing a semi-final draft of the agreement.
Sources said the revised text addressed Syrian concerns over delivery conditions and post-transfer guarantees. One major amendment removed a clause that would have allowed Lebanon to refuse extradition of specific convicts without justification, a concession by Beirut intended to facilitate approval while preserving detainees’ rights after transfer.
Amnesty Clause and Its Impact
Another key amendment involved provisions governing amnesty. Earlier drafts barred Syrian authorities from granting general or special amnesty to extradited convicts. Under the revised formula, Syria may grant amnesty if the detainee has served more than seven years in Lebanese prisons and if the amnesty does not exceed one-third of the remaining sentence. Judicial sources said this change could apply to roughly 90% of Syrian convicts currently held in Lebanon, most of whom have exceeded the seven-year threshold.
President Joseph Aoun reviewed the semi-final draft and expressed preliminary approval, according to the same sources. He called on the Lebanese judicial commission to expedite completion of the agreement while safeguarding Lebanese sovereignty and existing laws.
Next Steps and Lingering Concerns
Officials expect Lebanese Justice Minister Nassar to meet soon with his Syrian counterpart, Wais, to formally sign the agreement. The text would then move to the Lebanese Council of Ministers for approval before implementation. Insiders estimate that between 270 and 300 Syrian prisoners could initially benefit, easing pressure on Lebanon’s overcrowded prisons and marking a significant step in judicial cooperation between the two countries.
However, the broader detainee file remains unresolved. Lebanese officials estimate that about 1,500 Syrian detainees are held nationwide, many of whom would still require a law passed by Parliament to permit extradition. Authorities also warn that resolving the Syrian convicts’ issue alone could trigger tensions with Lebanese prisoners, who have opposed partial solutions they view as discriminatory.
Judicial sources stressed that a lasting solution to Lebanon’s prison crisis would require a general amnesty law, a step they described as politically difficult under current conditions. Against that backdrop, the planned strike at Roumieh underscores the gap between ongoing negotiations and the daily realities facing detainees, as pressure mounts for reforms that extend beyond nationality and individual cases.
