Amnesty International delegatation
concludes mission in Lebanon
Amnesty International's delegation concludes its visit to Lebanon today (11 December).
The delegation was led by the Secretary General, Irene Zubaida Khan. Other
delegates were June Ray, Director of the Middle East Program, Abdel Mitaal Gershab, Middle
East Development Coordinator, and Abdel Salam Sidahmed, Researcher in the Middle East
Program.
During the visit the delegation was received by President Emile Lahoud. Amnesty
International expressed appreciation of the positive human rights developments in Lebanon
and the cooperation of the Lebanese Government and raised outstanding human rights
concerns. These included continuing arbitrary arrests and trials before military
courts, the setting up of machinery to investigate allegations of torture or ill-treatment
and the use of the death penalty. The Secretary General said the organization was
following closely developments regarding the Commission investigating the cases of the
"disappeared" and kidnapped during the years of civil war, as well as the
inquiry into the cases of torture or ill-treatment of women highlighted in Amnesty
International's report issued in August this year. Both investigations are due to be
completed later this month. President Lahoud emphasized the importance he placed on
the rule of law adding that no one was above the law. He said that the independence
of the judiciary was also of paramount importance. The President added that Amnesty
International was always welcome in Lebanon and that Amnesty International's findings
would be taken seriously and investigated.
The Secretary General and accompanying delegation met with victims of human rights
violations as well as many Lebanese NGOs working in the field of human rights, including
women's rights and paid tribute to their work, stressing the value of working together for
greater protection and promotion of human rights. This, she said, was all the more
important at a time when, following the events of 11 September, fundamental human rights
are at risk worldwide, whether in Europe and the USA, where "anti-terrorism"
legislation threatens the rights of minorities such as asylum seekers and migrant workers,
or in Afghanistan where Amnesty International has been calling for the protection of
civilians and refugees and an investigation into the killings of prisoners at
Qala-I-Jhangi in Mazar-I-Sharif , as well as in the Israeli Occupied Territories, where
human rights continue to be sacrificed in the names of security.
The Secretary General visited Amnesty International's Regional Office which opened in
Beirut last year and met Amnesty International members in Beirut and Sidon, where she
opened a week of human rights awareness activities leading up to human rights day on 10
December. She also gave a presentation on the death penalty at the University of St
Joseph.
This was the first visit to the Middle East by the Secretary General, who assumed her post
in August this year. Irene Khan left Lebanon to join a delegation investigating the
situation of Afghan civilians and refugees and to mobilize support for a human rights
agenda for Afghanistan.
\ENDS
public document
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Last updated : December 10