Lebanese authorities have detained a Syrian dissident on the
weekend upon his arrival from Egypt, activists and a security source said, as a
watchdog expressed concern he could be deported to Syria.
Speaking to Agence France Presse, a security source confirmed the
detention of Zakaria Mutlak, 26.
"He was wanted by Lebanon's military," the General
Security source told AFP on condition of anonymity, adding that a request had
been put to all security agencies to cooperate in his detention.
"I don't know why he has been detained," the source
said, adding that Mutlak was handed over to the military.
According to Beirut-based Syrian activist Kinan Ali, Mutlak was arrested
at the Beirut Rafik Hariri International Airport on July 8 as he stepped off a
flight from Cairo.
"Mutlak was also one of the first activists to be detained in
Syria when the revolt broke out," Ali said, adding that "he was
forced to go on television in May last year and 'confess' that he was dealing
with 'armed terrorists'."
Syrian authorities arrested Mutlak in the early days of the
uprising that erupted in March last year but later released him, Ali said.
Earlier this year Mutlak was in the Homs city rebel stronghold of
Baba Amr, which government troops pounded relentlessly for a month until
seizing control of the neighborhood in March.
"He left Syria around five months ago, after being wounded in
Baba Amr," and traveled to Saudi Arabia for treatment before heading out
to Egypt, Ali said.
The Syrian League for Human Rights issued a statement on Wednesday
condemning Mutlak's arrest and expressing "deep concern" that
Lebanese authorities could deport him to Syria.
Source: Agence France
Presse
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http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/46268
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