He Died Two Days Before His Freedom: Bureaucratic Scandal Shakes Lebanese Prisons

Detainee Ali Zaher (27 years old) passed away following a health complication he suffered during his detention at the Choueifat police station, prior to being transferred to a hospital in Akkar, amid accusations of negligence and delays in implementing the amnesty law.

According to a statement issued by the Prisoners' Families Committee, Zaher, who had been detained for over a year, was covered by the amnesty law and was scheduled to be released next Monday, after his release procedures were delayed for more than twenty days due to administrative complexities and the multiplicity of required documents.

The statement held the Higher Judicial Council responsible for the delay in issuing and circulating decisions, considering that bureaucratic procedures have turned into an obstacle preventing prisoners from benefiting from the general amnesty, and accusing relevant authorities of disregarding the lives of detainees.

The statement demanded an immediate investigation into the circumstances of the death and accountability for any negligence, warning against continued delays in implementing the amnesty law, amidst rising anger inside Lebanese prisons and among the families of detainees.