Urgent Action Outcome: Refugees At Risk Of Forcible Return Released

Lebanese authorities have released three Syrian refugees, Ahmad Al Waked and Tarek Al A’lo on 13 October 2021, and Fares Al Zo’bi on 22 October 2021. The three men had been held in incommunicado detention since September 2021 and were at risk of forced deportation to Syria.

NO FURTHER ACTION IS REQUESTED. MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO SENT APPEALS.

The Lebanese General Security (GS), which are in charge of monitoring the entry, residence and exit of all foreigners in Lebanon, released three Syrian nationals, Ahmad Al Waked, Tarek Al A’lo, and Fares Al Zo’bi, whom they had detained in September 2021 at Beirut International Airport as they were seeking to travel to a third country, on the basis that they had entered the country “illegally”.

The GS held them in incommunicado detention, and they were at risk of being forcibly deported back to Syria. Were that to happen, the Lebanese authorities would have put them at heightened risk of being subjected to grave human rights violations, including torture, enforced disappearance or arbitrary detention.

Following sustained pressure by a human rights lawyer who was following up on their cases and Amnesty International, Ahmad Al Waked and Tarek Al A’lo were released on 13 October and Fares Al Zo’bi on 22 October. The three men were handed back their passports, enabling them to seek asylum in a third country.  

The human rights lawyer confirmed that Amnesty International’s work had contributed to the release of the three Syrian refugees and protected them from forced deportation to Syria.