Syrian refugees activists detained and most probably kidnapped

Syrian political activists who fled to Lebanon faced the risk of targeting, harassment, and kidnapping by Syrian and Lebanese security services. For example, on February 23 and 24, agents from the LAF Military Intelligence Bureau detained several members of the Jasem family, Syrian citizens, after one of them distributed flyers calling for protests demanding democratic changes in Syria. Jasem Jasem disappeared on February 24 along with two of his brothers who had gone to pick him up from a police station, and their whereabouts were unknown at year’s end. Press reports stated ISF Major General Ashraf Rifi suspected an officer within the ISF colluded with the Syrian Embassy in his kidnapping. Four other men from the Jasem family were released after a few hours, but were then ordered to report back to the military intelligence offices. On March 8, the men were detained and later transferred to Roumieh Prison. No further information was available at year’s end.