Case LBN 270907
Arbitrary arrest and detention/ Incommunicado detention/ Fear for safety/ Fear of torture and ill-treatment
The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Lebanon.
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by a reliable source and by Antenna International, member of the SOS-Torture network, about the incommunicado detention of Mr. Mahmoud Abou Rafeh since May 2007 in the Ministry of Defense Detention Center.
According to the information received, Mr. Mahmoud Abou Rafeh, 60 years old, was arrested on 7 June 2006 by the Intelligence Services of the Lebanese Army allegedly accused of being a member of a network operating in Lebanon on behalf of the Israeli Intelligence Services. He was reportedly arrested by men in plainclothes who hit his car at around 5:00 am before taking him away leaving his car with the motor running on the crash site. He was then detained at the Ministry of Defense Detention Center but his whereabouts had remained allegedly secret for several days.
According to the same information, his family was granted a visit permit from July 2006 to May 2007 but under strict surveillance. However, since May 2007, his family was refused any visits. The military intelligence reportedly told them that the security situation prevailing in the country was making any visit to detainees in that detention center impossible.
It has also to be reported that Mr. Mahmoud Abou Rafeh’s lawyer was never allowed to meet with him. Moreover, he was heard several times by the military judge without assistance from his lawyer.
The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Mahmoud Abou Rafeh being particular at risk of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. The Ministry of Defense Detention Center is reportedly famous for detainees being subjected to torture and ill-treatment as well as to solitary confinement. OMCT recalls that Lebanon is a State party to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment which prohibits torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
Please write to the authorities in Lebanon urging them to:
Please also write to the embassies of Lebanon in your respective country.
Geneva, 27 September 2007
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
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