Demonstration in Geneva Demands Revelation of Fate of Lebanese Prisoners and Missing

The city of Geneva witnessed a solidarity sit-in in front of the United Nations headquarters, called for by the "Khiram Center for Rehabilitation of Torture Victims," demanding the revelation of the fate of Lebanese prisoners, detainees, and missing persons, calling for the protection of civilians, children, and families in southern Lebanon, and rejecting house demolitions, land leveling, and the destruction of villages and civilian property.

Participating in the sit-in were a number of human rights activists and members of the Lebanese and Arab community, along with those showing solidarity with the cause of prisoners and civilian rights.

Raja Ammar, representative of the Khiram Center in Switzerland, welcomed the participants and attendees, confirming that "the sit-in comes to raise voices before international institutions for the sake of southern Lebanon and its people, especially children, families, and civilians who have been subjected to fear, displacement, loss of loved ones, and property." She pointed out that "the issue of Lebanese detainees, prisoners, and missing persons constitutes a fundamental axis of the movement," demanding that the international community "work to know their fate and guarantee their rights and dignity."

Ammar's speech included a set of demands and recommendations, most notably: "Protecting civilians and children and ensuring their safety according to the rules of international humanitarian law; protecting homes and civilian infrastructure and preventing exposing the population to the risk of displacement or loss of shelter; ensuring the safe and dignified return of displaced persons to their villages and homes, and working on the reconstruction of affected areas; revealing the fate of Lebanese detainees, prisoners, and missing persons and informing their families about the fate of their sons; allowing competent humanitarian bodies, especially the International Committee of the Red Cross, access to detainees, verifying their conditions, and guaranteeing their rights; supporting affected families, especially children, and securing education, care, and psychological and social support for them; the international community assuming its responsibilities, following up on these files seriously, and not leaving the suffering of civilians and the missing unaddressed."

"Qana Observatory"

For his part, the director of the "Qana Observatory" for Human Rights, Muhammad Tayy, spoke about violations that he said "affected civilians, children, and border villages in southern Lebanon." He indicated that "the International Committee of the Red Cross has not been able, according to what he presented, to visit Lebanese citizens detained in Israel since October 2023." He noted that "Lebanese families still do not know the fate of their sons and their health and living conditions, and there are reports stating that 35 Lebanese remain detained in Israel, including 20 civilians, according to media reports citing security sources and the Follow-up Committee for Prisoners in early September."

He addressed the situation of children and border villages, speaking about large numbers of killed and injured among children, and about the destruction of homes, agricultural lands, and orchards in southern regions. He demanded "allowing the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit all Lebanese detainees, stopping the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and following up on the file of prisoners and detainees at the international level."

Khiram Center

In turn, the head of the Khiram Center for Rehabilitation of Torture Victims, Muhammad Safa, indicated that "the movement in front of the UN headquarters aims to draw attention to the issue of Lebanese prisoners and the children and families harmed by war and displacement." He focused on "the issue of Lebanese prisoners whose families do not know their fate," demanding that the United Nations and the international community "take action and pressure to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit detainees, reassure themselves about their conditions, and inform their families about their fate."

He criticized "the official Lebanese shortcoming in following up on the prisoners' issue," calling on the Lebanese government to "give this file greater priority." He affirmed that "the goal of the movement is to sound the alarm regarding the fate of Lebanese prisoners and missing persons, and the necessity of preventing the issue from remaining without international follow-up." He paid tribute "on the second anniversary of the martyrdom of the greatest Arab leader since Islam in the history of Arabs, the Leader Sayed al-Shams and Sayed al-Qulub, the Martyr Sayed Hassan Nasrallah."

Solidarity Speeches

The sit-in also featured speeches by Muhammad Rammal and Mahmoud Hariri, focusing on the situation of residents of southern Lebanon, what families, children, and civilians have suffered, in addition to house demolitions and the destruction of a number of villages and properties.

Participants from the Druze Communication Committee joined the sit-in, as part of affirming solidarity with the cause of prisoners and civilian rights.

Message

The movement concluded with an affirmation that "the issue of Lebanese prisoners and missing persons, alongside the protection of civilians and children and the right of residents to return to their villages and homes, requires continuous international follow-up, and action from concerned international and human rights institutions." Participants confirmed that their message from in front of the UN headquarters in Geneva is "demanding life, safety, and dignity for the people of southern Lebanon, and truth and justice for every family waiting to know the fate of one of their sons."