Gemayel Urges Lebanese Government to Act on Fate of Detainees and Forcibly Disappeared in Syria

Kataeb Party Leader Samy Gemayel, directed a written question to the Lebanese government concerning the urgent measures needed to determine the fate of Lebanese citizens detained and forcibly disappeared in Syria.

In his letter to the Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, Gemayel emphasized the need for the Lebanese government to take immediate and intensive action to determine the fate of Lebanese citizens detained in Syrian prisons, more than 622 individuals, as well as those recently released from Syrian prisons.

Gemayel pointed out that this humanitarian issue has gained particular importance following the announcement on December 5, 2024, about the release of hundreds of prisoners from Syrian jails, including kidnapped Lebanese nationals.

He called on the Lebanese government to verify the identity of the freed individuals and work towards securing their return to Lebanon.

He also noted that the Lebanese state is legally, constitutionally, and ethically obligated to pursue the case of Lebanese detainees and forcibly disappeared persons in Syria, and to not leave them in the unknown after decades of suffering.

He stressed that this issue requires urgent action from all relevant bodies, including security agencies, Lebanese diplomatic missions, the National Committee for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared, and international human rights organizations.

The Kataeb Party leader also posed a series of questions to the Lebanese government, particularly to the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Justice and Foreign Affairs, regarding the practical steps taken or to be taken to verify the fate of the missing and detained individuals, organize coordination with international organizations, and activate the work of the National Committee for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared.

He inquired about the coordination with international organizations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to help uncover the fate of the missing and detained individuals.

He also asked about the outcomes of such coordination, if any, as well as the plan developed by the government to activate the work of the National Committee for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared in this matter. Additionally, he requested information on the resources allocated to the committee to carry out its tasks effectively.

Gemayel emphasized that this issue is a humanitarian priority that requires immediate attention, urging the government to respond to these questions within fifteen days. Otherwise, he stated, he would be compelled to turn the question into an interpellation in accordance with the parliamentary bylaws.