Hunger strike in Lebanese prisons ends after settlement over amnesty bill reached

Prisoners in Lebanon announced that they were ending an open-ended hunger strike on Monday after a settlement was reached on a controversial general amnesty bill. The bill, which was passed by parliament in August, was suspended after a parliamentary bloc filed an appeal against it, citing fears it would allow the release of Islamist detainees accused of mounting attacks against Lebanese army soldiers and servicemen. Some of them have spent long years in prison without standing trial.

The country’s constitutional council rejected the appeal, instead mandating amendments to some clauses and the removal of others. More than 600 prisoners had been on hunger strike for 30 days in protest against the suspension of the law, which would have benefitted thousands by reducing their prison terms. Around 72 of them were in critical condition and had to be hospitalised. According to the prisoners’ families committee, at least seven hunger strikers died from medical neglect or pre-existing illnesses.

New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The law aims to reduce prison overcrowding, especially at Roumieh, Lebanon’s largest detention facility, which is operating at more than 300 percent of its official capacity, with more than 4,000 prisoners held in a space meant to accommodate around 1,000 people. 'People are exhausted, and every time a prisoner is transferred to hospital, tensions rise further' - Youssef, Syrian detainee in Roumieh prison The overcrowding has been exacerbated by lengthy trials and prisoners held for years without judicial proceedings.

Speaking to MEE from Roumieh last week, Youssef*, a Syrian prisoner, said no verdict has been issued in his case in the 11 years he has spent in detention over what he describes as “a false report” filed by someone seeking to blackmail him for money. “Like many prisoners here, we’ve spent years waiting for our cases to be resolved. So when the amnesty law was passed, we felt there was a real chance to get out of this situation,” he said via WhatsApp.

Youssef said tensions and anger at Roumieh prison were running high amid the hunger strike and the growing number of prisoners whose health was deteriorating. “People are exhausted, and every time a prisoner is transferred to hospital, tensions rise further. The general feeling is that our fate hangs in the balance, and no one knows how long this situation will last.” The amnesty law has faced criticism and backlash from activists and politicians, who have accused lawmakers of using the issue of overcrowding as a “Trojan horse” to essentially pass a blanket amnesty that could pardon financial and corruption crimes related to Lebanon’s 2019 economic collapse, as well as war crimes and crimes against humanity. ‘People are destitute’: Lebanon’s spiralling prices fuel fears of social unrest Read More » “This law took the form of a self-amnesty, a blanket amnesty really, because it is unconditional, just like the general amnesty of the 90s,” said Lebanese lawyer and researcher Nizar Saghieh, referring to a general amnesty law passed in 1991, absolving the majority of the militia fighters and leaders that participated in the country’s 15-year civil war.

While the constitutional council’s decision was hailed for introducing changes that safeguard against a blanket amnesty, it also added further restrictions around who could benefit from the bill, especially affecting prisoners with life sentences. Hamza*, a resident of Tripoli, said that although he was happy the bill would benefit his brother Omar*, who has been in prison for nearly 15 years, he was “very sad” for others who would no longer be included in the amnesty following the constitutional council’s amendments.

“Our joy is incomplete, to be honest,” he said. Omar was arrested in 2011 on terrorism charges for his involvement in clashes between Alawites and Sunnis in Tripoli. He was 18 years old. *Names were changed to protect their identities. Copyright © 2014 - 2026 . Middle East Eye. All rights reserved. Only England and Wales jurisdiction apply in all legal matters. Middle East Eye ISSN 2634-2456