Rifi announces preparation of a draft law to address the prison crisis: "Amnesty" is a national necessity

MP Ashraf Rifi held a press conference in his office in Tripoli, attended by a number of detainees' families and a crowd of supporters, during which he announced work on preparing a draft law to address the crisis of overcrowding in Lebanese prisons, stressing that the current reality has become a national and security threat requiring urgent action.

Rifi began his conference by highlighting the reality of Lebanese prisons, noting that the capacity of prisons does not exceed between 3,500 and 4,000 prisoners, while the number of inmates currently amounts to approximately 8,600 prisoners, after the evacuation of some prisons and detention centers in the south and the southern suburb during the war led to the transfer of detainees to other areas, raising the overcrowding rate to unprecedented levels.

He pointed out that the paradox lies in the fact that the number of pre-trial detainees now far exceeds the number of convicted prisoners, contrary to what is practiced in most countries of the world, where convicts constitute the largest proportion of prisoners. He said: "This reality reflects a deep crisis in the course of justice," stressing that "continuing the situation as it is is no longer possible."

Rifi criticized what he described as previous stages that witnessed "fabrication of files and falsification of accusations" under the dominance of the Syrian regime and its allies over judicial and security apparatuses, considering that many detainees spent long years behind bars as a result of trials tainted by political and security flaws.

He stressed that "the proposed project does not fall within the framework of a 'general amnesty' in its traditional sense, but rather aims to address a worsening national crisis that threatens stability inside and outside prisons," emphasizing that "the goal is to find legal and humanitarian solutions that alleviate overcrowding while preserving the rights of victims and justice."

Rifi compared the current reality to the theory of "the earthquake and aftershocks," considering that the mass release of prisoners in Syrian prisons after the fall of the former regime constitutes a development that could reflect on neighboring countries, warning that "ignoring the crisis in Lebanon could lead to security explosions inside overcrowded prisons."

Major General Rifi stressed that "the President of the Republic is the legitimate constitutional authority authorized to manage and negotiate sensitive national files," praising his recent position which he considered "a responsible national position reflecting a keenness to address the crisis within constitutional and legal frameworks" and the national and historic position of Prime Minister Dr. Nawaf Salam.

Rifi criticized what he described as attempts by some parties to impose their will on the Lebanese state, considering that "the era of guardianship over national decision-making has passed, and only constitutional institutions have the right to make decisions that serve the country's interest and address its crises."

He noted that the meeting held with the President of the Republic discussed most of the possible proposals and solutions to address the prison file, pointing out that the President showed full understanding of the gravity of the current reality, based on his military background and awareness of the sensitivity of the conditions inside prisons, which he described as "a ticking time bomb that cannot tolerate further delay or procrastination."

Rifi stressed the need to approach the file away from narrow political calculations, affirming that the goal is to achieve justice and vindicate the oppressed, not to exploit the issue in internal conflicts or use it to achieve political gains.

In his discussion of the military court, he considered that it was used during previous stages as a political tool against opponents of some influential powers, calling for a review of many files and rulings issued against young people who were prosecuted and tried more than once on similar charges.

He stressed that "justice cannot be selective, but must include everyone, and any serious treatment must start from lifting injustice from detainees and convicts who were subjected to unfair prosecutions, in parallel with holding the real perpetrators of crimes accountable."

Rifi also renewed his insistence on uncovering the truth in the assassination files that Lebanon witnessed, stressing that "the blood of the martyrs, foremost among them the martyrs of the Lebanese Army and security forces, must remain a national priority, and that full justice for them does not lapse with the passage of time."

He stressed that "moving the prison file has become an urgent national necessity to save Lebanon from the repercussions of a worsening crisis, achieve justice for the oppressed, protect the rights of detainees, and establish the state of law and institutions for all Lebanese."

In his discussion of the military institution, he stressed that "the sons of the Sunni sect were and still are at the core of the Lebanese Army," recalling the Battle of Nahr al-Bared that the army fought against the "Fatah al-Islam" organization, noting that the confrontation cost the military institution 171 martyrs from various regions and sects, including a large number of sons of Akkar and the north, and the largest percentage were from the Sunni sect.

He stressed that demanding to address the conditions of detainees "does not conflict with respecting the blood of the martyrs of the army and security forces," saying: "What is required is to achieve justice and lift injustice from the oppressed, not to infringe on the rights of victims or be lenient with serious crimes."

Rifi revealed that he has prepared an integrated vision for a draft law, in cooperation with a number of legal experts and lawyers, including lawyer Muhammad Sabluh and Dr. Abdul Majeed Awwad, calling on the House of Representatives to reactivate the discussion of this file and not delay it, because delay, according to his expression, "may turn into a heavy burden on the Lebanese state."

He pointed out that previous discussions on the file revealed the existence of special demands from various Lebanese components, calling for a balanced national approach that guarantees the rights of all and translates the promises previously given to the families of prisoners, which have not been implemented to this day.

Rifi concluded by stressing that "addressing the prison crisis is no longer a factional or sectarian demand, but has become an urgent national necessity," warning that "continued overcrowding and delay in finding solutions could push matters towards a spontaneous explosion inside prisons and detention centers."

He said: "If we do not address this crisis calmly and through the law, it will impose itself in a more dangerous way on everyone," calling for launching an urgent legislative workshop leading to solutions that preserve the rights of all.

Then Rifi recited the literal text of the project:

Draft General Amnesty Law

Draft of basic proposals for the General Amnesty Project

Prepared by Major General Ashraf, lawyer Muhammad Sabluh, Dr. Abdul Majeed Awwad.

General Amnesty Law

-1- The reasons:

Whereas it is established that the prison crisis and the prisoners' crisis have worsened humanely and nationally.

And whereas the prisons and detention centers in Lebanon have witnessed serious and unprecedented humanitarian indicators.

And whereas overcrowding has reached more than four times the natural capacity (approximately 8,600 prisoners). And whereas the percentage of detainees has reached about 80% of prison inmates compared to about 20% of convicts, and this reality contradicts and violates the ratios found in most countries of the world.

And whereas prisons and detention centers have witnessed unprecedented deaths in Lebanon, as 48 prisoners died during the year 2025 and 13 prisoners died during the first four months of the current year 2026.

And whereas detention places are witnessing unprecedented overcrowding, and a lack of most types of necessary medicines, and whereas prisons and detention places have witnessed a significant shortage in the quantity of necessary water, hot water, nutrition, and medical follow-up, and in light of the absence of places for sports, and the lack of rehabilitation programs and preparation for reintegration into society.

And due to the weak capabilities of the Internal Security Forces to secure necessary market tasks, which has made these places a kind of centers for generating hatred, resentment, and hatred towards the state and the other citizen, which has turned detention places into what resembles academies for criminal rehabilitation, and for destroying the national spirit and national harmony.

And whereas events in Lebanon have worsened, and unusual national tensions have appeared between the Lebanese components.

And whereas the application of this law constitutes an opportunity to reduce tension between these components, which could be an incentive for regional national reconciliations, and for a comprehensive national reconciliation.

Based on the foregoing, and for these and other reasons, we see a national, humanitarian, and moral necessity to propose this law in a formula that takes into account social, humanitarian, and national requirements.

And whereas trials in Lebanon during the period of events witnessed a lot of bias, injustice, and unfairness.

And after the judicial files worsened, which has become a difficulty for the judicial body, and due to the significant shortage in its numbers to complete these files within a reasonable period of time.

And after the Syrian prisons were opened following the recent developments there, revealing the magnitude of the hidden atrocities in the depths of prisons, which forces us to avoid the possibility of its reflection on our country, according to the theory of the earthquake and aftershocks.

2- Proposed procedures:

21- The following exceptional measures shall be taken once.

22- Replace the death penalty and make it 27 years imprisonment.

23- Replace the life sentence and make it 17 years imprisonment.

24- Reduce one third of the sentence terms and execute two thirds of them.

25- Merge sentences by adopting the most severe penalty.

26- Whoever has served 12 years imprisonment and no verdict has been issued against him, shall be released immediately and tried while released.

27- Those excluded from the provisions of this General Amnesty Law, and its inclusion of reduction in criminal cases filed before the date of this law, have the right to submit a request for a retrial once before the competent judiciary to consider their case anew.

3- Application of Law No. "164/2011"

Law on the Return of Lebanese Fleeing to Israel after 2000, issued on 3/11/2011. Immediately upon putting this law into effect, without the need for implementing decrees.

4- Among the exceptions:

Excluded from benefiting from the provisions of this law are those referred to the courts (according to what was agreed upon in the joint committee sessions) and it is proposed regarding drug crimes the following text:

(All drug crimes, except for the crime of use and the crime of simple promotion and cultivation of cannabis stipulated in Law 78/2020 dated 7/5/2020 (i.e., the law regulating the cultivation of cannabis for medical and industrial use).

5- A judicial committee shall be formed to supervise the implementation of the provisions of this exceptional law, provided that this task is carried out immediately and within a maximum period of 3 months.

6- The General Directorate of General Security shall be tasked with communicating with the embassies of the countries of the non-Lebanese detainees or convicts who will be released under this law to secure their deportation to their countries.

7- Article 108 of the Code of Criminal Procedure shall be amended to become mandatory, and a judicial authority or reference (the First President or the Indictment Chamber in each governorate) shall be tasked with applying the exceptions in certain special cases that require that.

8- Since great controversy has accompanied two major national crimes against the martyrs of the Lebanese Army, (the events and the crime of killing the martyr pilot Samer Hanna), these two cases shall be referred to an independent judicial body in Beirut, under the supervision of the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, to uncover the true circumstances of these two crimes and punish the perpetrators.

9- Exceptional measures shall be taken regarding some of those released, given the nature of the events for which they were detained, and who will be released under this law, taking into account the provisions of Article 81 et seq. of the Penal Code.