Hundreds gathered in Lebanon‘s second city, Tripoli, on Sunday, urging the release of Islamists detained during Syria’s civil war, an AFP journalist reported.
The detainees include Lebanese nationals who joined rebels in fighting against Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad after the conflict began in 2011. They were arrested upon their return to Lebanon.
The protest in Tripoli’s Nour Square comes nearly a month after Assad’s regime was toppled by Islamist-led forces.
Protester Ahmad al-Shimali stated, “We want to increase pressure on Lebanese authorities to release all Islamist detainees. Most were arrested in the context of the Syrian revolution. They fought, supported people in Syria, or communicated with fighters.”
He added, “But today the Assad regime has fallen.”
Human rights advocates have long called for fair trials for those accused of links to Islamist extremism in Lebanon, with some detainees languishing in prison for years without trial.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati promised last month to resolve the issue but emphasised that parliament must first decide on a general amnesty.
Tripoli, historically divided along sectarian lines, witnessed clashes early in the Syrian war, with tensions between its Sunni-majority Bab al-Tebbaneh district and the Alawite-majority Jabal Mohsen area. These long-standing divisions were exacerbated by the neighbouring conflict.
