Roumieh Prison brings the general amnesty file back to the forefront amid popular pressure and political division.

Roumieh Prison witnessed protests in response to the start of handing over Syrian detainees to their country, while the stalemate over Lebanese prisoners continues.

“Roumieh Prison brings the general amnesty issue back to the forefront amid popular pressure and political division”

An-Nahar

The protesters demanded the enactment of a general amnesty, and they set fire to bedding in several buildings inside the prison, in a scene that reignited attention to this chronic issue.

An-Nahar

This incident coincided with moves by a number of Sunni MPs who filed a general amnesty draft law, which calls for a comprehensive settlement of a large number of judicial files by dropping prosecutions and sentences for crimes committed before its issuance, so that it covers various involved parties—perpetrators, partners, and instigators—and nullifies the effects of security and judicial documents related to them.

Notably, the amnesty is not absolute; it excludes serious crimes, foremost among them premeditated murder, and crimes referred to the Court of Justice, in an attempt to balance closing a broad judicial chapter with maintaining a ceiling of accountability in sensitive cases.

In parallel, political meetings intensified.

An-Nahar

The concerned MPs met with Deputy Speaker of Parliament Elias Bou Saab, and the talks included the Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and the President of the Republic Joseph Aoun, in an effort to move the file forward and quickly refer it to the joint committees in preparation for its approval in the General Assembly.

MP Bilal Al-Heshimi, one of the sponsors of the law, described the meeting as "excellent" and noted agreement on most proposals, while Ali Hassan Khalil asked for time to present his team’s comments.

Heshimi stressed that the President does not express any objection to the principle of amnesty, and quoted him: "Where there is blood, no one should come near it," signaling opposition to amnesty for those involved in killing Lebanese people, especially soldiers, security forces, and civilians.

He suggested alternatives such as shortening sentences or reducing prison terms, and highlighted severe overcrowding and the need to review the Military Court’s sentences, which he described as politicized and under Hezbollah’s influence, urging a quick reevaluation and mentioning "communication documents" used as political pressure.

Meanwhile, political consensus remains elusive.

“Roumieh Prison brings the general amnesty issue back to the forefront amid popular pressure and political division”

An-Nahar

The Kataeb Party rejects the principle of a comprehensive general amnesty and calls for speeding up trials and improving their conditions as an alternative, a stance echoed by the Free Patriotic Movement and the Lebanese Forces, with a proposal to broaden the remedy to also cover Lebanese exiled to Israel.

The Progressive Socialist Party, for its part, believes the issue has not yet been raised from a humanitarian and human rights perspective, but rather from a sectarian and confessional angle, which makes agreement unlikely under current circumstances unless it is reframed on different foundations.

Meanwhile, a growing view calls for not waiting for the general amnesty’s approval and for immediately reviewing Military Court rulings, especially in terrorism cases.

Proponents of this approach say that many judgments were issued arbitrarily or politically, affecting groups, especially in the north and Tripoli, accused of fighting the army contrary to the facts.

They acknowledge the possibility of limited clashes with the army, but not to the extent of killing or causing casualties, arguing that broad accusations were unjust.

They point out that some judgments were issued based on suspicions or positions related to the Syrian opposition, at a time when the facts had changed, and the parties once considered opposition are now the authorities, which, in their view, negates the justifications of those judgments and calls for retrial.

This group goes further, arguing that many defendants accused of fighting the army do not fit that charge, and that Military Court decisions were often political and tailored to pressures.

In light of all this, the general amnesty file still seems stuck between street pressure and political complexities, as calls grow for a comprehensive approach that restores justice without sacrificing victims’ rights or turning the law into a tool for a temporary settlement.

Overall, the general amnesty file remains mired in street pressure and political complexities.

Supporters argue for a comprehensive settlement that balances justice for victims with accountability.

An-Nahar

Opponents push for targeted reforms, faster trials, and alternative remedies, including revisiting Military Court rulings.

The outcome remains uncertain as parties seek a path that prevents impunity while addressing overcrowding and humanitarian concerns.