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Conflict Incident Report
Protesters in Tripoli call for general amnesty for prisoners
TRIPOLI, Lebanon: Protesters in Tripoli called for general amnesty for all prisoners, regardless of sect, after the conclusion prayers at the northern city’s Taqwa Mosque.
The protests were led by the controversial Tripoli MP Khaled Daher and Sheikh Salem al-Rifai.
The two leaders said that a majority of those imprisoned were being held without any court hearing. “It is imperative to raise our voice for justice to be served. I called for general amnesty across Lebanon in Parliament around three weeks ago because of the difficult political, security, and social situation we are witnessing today,” Daher said.
He added that some of the prisoners were sent to jail because of political battles started by certain politicians, without specifying who. “Some of [the inmates] are in Lebanon because of politicians here,” Daher claimed.
Rifai echoed Daher and pleaded for officials to come together and work for the release of the imprisoned men and women. “All imprisoned – Christians, Shiites and Druze – we don’t have a problem [with any sect] because Sunnis are not the only oppressed people,” Rifai said.
“We call for general amnesty of all and hope there is an agreement between politicians and officials for general amnesty,” he added.
A general amnesty request must be put forward by the interior and justice ministers, and would also require approval by President Michel Aoun.
Protests are routinely held by the families of Islamist inmates throughout Lebanon. Earlier this week a protest was held in front of Labor Minister Mohammad Kabbara’s Tripoli office. Families and relatives of Islamist prisoners in the northern port city of Tripoli have previously held protests to denounce the transfer of inmates to overcrowded cells at the infamous Roumieh Prison.
A number of prisoners have been held without a trial.
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