A new case at risk of extradition to Syria

In 2014, Mohammad had arrived Lebanon with his family. He knew later he is wanted by the Syrian Military Forces and Syrian State Security and is wanted as well to do the obligatory Military Service.

On 21 January 2023, Mohammad was arrested at a checkpoint by the Lebanese Army in Chtaura in Beqaa, very close where he lives. He was referred afterward to the Military Court in Beirut.

On 20 September 2023, he was sentenced innocent from the military Court but on 22 September 2023, he was transferred to the General Directorate of General Security in Beirut. He knew later that the Lebanese authorities would deport him to Syria although the sentence did not include that he should be deported.

On 13 October 2023, the General Security members came to him in order to give him a paper to sign on. The content of paper was his possible consent to deport him, but he refused to sign on it for his fears that he will be arrested and then tortured in Syria. The forces told him then that they will refer his papers to the UNHCR office in Beirut.

Therefore, and fearing that he might be subjected to any harm, the Cedar Center for Legal Studies wrote on October 13, 2023, to the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

It is worth noting that Lebanon has been a party to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment since 2000. The agreement states in Article 3, paragraph “a” that:

“No State Party may expel, return (“refouler”) or extradite any person to another State, if it has substantial grounds for believing that he would be in danger of being subjected to torture.” 

Cedar Center for Legal Studies is a non-profit civil company, established in Lebanon in 2013 and registered under No. 609, and it is an independent, non-sectarian center. The center is concerned with spreading the culture of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.