Lebanon has begun procedures to transfer the first group of Syrian prisoners held in its prisons to Damascus so they can complete their sentences in their home country. The move follows a judicial cooperation agreement signed between Lebanon and Syria on February 6.
The agreement establishes legal mechanisms for transferring convicted individuals between the two countries under defined conditions, reflecting growing judicial coordination and helping Lebanese authorities manage the situation of foreign inmates in their prison system.
A judicial source confirmed the Public Prosecution at the Lebanese Court of Cassation has completed reviewing the files of around 100 Syrian prisoners, clearing them for transfer before the upcoming Eid al-Fitr. The source said the judiciary is working at an accelerated pace to process the remaining files, noting the rest of the transfers could be finalized by the end of April once legal procedures are completed.
Reviewing Prisoner Requests
Ahmad al-Haj is currently reviewing the cases of 342 Syrian prisoners who have requested transfer to Syria to serve the remainder of their sentences. According to the source, most of these requests already meet the legal conditions required for transfer, while only a limited number remain under detailed review. If the current pace continues, the remaining cases could be completed within about a month.
Requests for prisoner transfers were submitted through three primary channels. Some prisoners submitted their requests directly through Lebanese prison administrations, while others applied through their legal representatives, who followed the procedures with the relevant judicial authorities. A third channel involved the Syrian state itself, which dispatched a committee of lawyers to review the cases of Syrian inmates in Lebanon and assist in expediting the submission of requests and the completion of required documentation.
Legal Conditions for Prisoner Transfers
Transfers must comply with the conditions outlined in the judicial cooperation agreement signed by Tarek Mitri and Mazhar al-Wais. Under the agreement, prisoners must not have any additional ongoing legal cases in Lebanon in order to qualify for transfer.
In cases involving serious crimes such as murder or drug trafficking, the individual must have served at least ten years of their sentence before becoming eligible. Additionally, any financial compensation owed to victims must be settled prior to the transfer.
Lebanese judicial authorities emphasize that these conditions are intended to protect the rights of victims while ensuring compliance with the legal procedures governing the transfer of convicted individuals between states.
Expanding Judicial Cooperation
The prisoner transfer process is part of broader efforts strengthening legal coordination between Beirut and Damascus. Syrian authorities expressed interest in accelerating the transfer of their nationals detained in Lebanon, citing humanitarian considerations, particularly the benefit of allowing prisoners to remain closer to their families, as well as administrative factors related to prison management.
Officials expect the review process to continue in the coming weeks, with additional transfers proceeding as soon as the remaining files meet the legal requirements. The initiative is also expected to help ease overcrowding in Lebanese prisons while reinforcing judicial cooperation between the two countries.
