Iloubnan - CLDH calls for the immediate release of retired General Fayez Karam - September 23, 2010

BEIRUT | iloubnan.info - September 23, 2010

In a communiqué issued on Thursday, CLDH (Lebanese Center for Human Rights) called for "the immediate release of retired General Fayez Karam who is arbitrarily detained in a 'special prison'"

"The multiple violations of the detainee's rights, as guaranteed by the Lebanese law and Lebanon’s international commitments, are so serious that his detention is arbitrary. The proceedings against the officer should be immediately canceled and the latter released", the communique stated.

It added that "CLDH representatives have tried to visit General Fayez Karam in Roumieh prison this week (building called "Maalumet” managed by the intelligence services of the Internal Security Forces) but could not access the place of detention which the guards themselves qualify as a "special prison" which is not accessible to NGOs contrarily to other areas of the central prison."

"This visit attempt was motivated by concerns about the detainee’s physical, psychological and legal conditions."

"In fact, since his arrest on August 3, 2010, General Karam has been under the custody of the same security forces which carried out his arrest and interrogation, which impairs his right to defend himself and places him at risk of being subjected to pressures, if not to torture."

"Moreover, according to the information available, General Karam has to this day not been granted the right to talk face to face with his lawyers, in contradiction with Article 14 paragraph 3 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ratified by Lebanon[5] and with the Lebanese Prison Internal Code which states that lawyers' visits can take place "without the presence of a guard if the defendant or the attorney requests it.” "

"In addition, following his arrest, General Karam was allegedly detained incommunicado and interrogated without the assistance of counsel during eight days before being presented to an investigating judge, in the presence of his lawyer but without having been able to talk with him previously in contradiction with Article 47 of the Code of Criminal Procedure[6] and Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights[7]. "

"In addition to these violations of procedure, General Karam was victim of libel on the part of some unscrupulous media, which pretended to make his alleged confession public even before the file was referred to the Justice System. This may constitute a serious violation to the confidentiality of the investigation and the presumption of innocence which the inmate is supposed to benefit from, notably under Article 14 paragraph 2[8] of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. "

"CLDH considers that under these conditions, General Karam is not only subjected to arbitrary detention, but also at risk for his physical and psychological integrity, especially as he is 62 years old and has serious health problems."

The Lebanese Center for Human Rights calls on the Lebanese judicial authorities:

" To order an immediate investigation to determine those responsible for the serious human rights violations perpetrated against General Karam, to immediately release General Karam pending the results of the investigation on the violations which he seems to have suffered, to cancel any statement that the defendant has made during his arbitrary detention"


CLDH urges the Ministry of Interior "to take the necessary measures to place the building called "Maalumet" in Roumieh prison under the direction of the Internal Security Forces and their rules."


"CLDH request the bars of Lebanon to take immediate action to put an end to de facto restrictions imposed on lawyers’ practice, and in particular the lack of privacy in meetings".


"CLDH also urges the syndicate of journalists to apply Lebanese law and journalistic ethics that journalists must follow so the latter may cease to violate almost systematically the confidentiality of investigations and the presumption of innocence of those arrested."


"CLDH holds the Lebanese authorities responsible for the physical and psychological integrity of General Karam and reserves the right to take all necessary measures at the international level to preserve the rights of the detainee. "