No New Info on Convicted Lebanese Citizens in Syria
Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar confirmed on Thursday that the Lebanese judicial committee was in continuous contact with its Syrian counterpart to find a solution to Lebanese citizens jailed in the neighboring country.
However, Najjar told Voice of Lebanon radio that there was no new information on the file of Lebanese citizens convicted in Syria. He only said there is continuous contact between the Lebanese and Syrian committees.
Sources close to the Lebanese committee had said that Najjar and the committee were coordinating with the Syrian side so that Damascus hands over the convicts.
Beirut media said Thursday, it was not yet clear if the list of names included those arrested during the civil war, or political prisoners or citizens convinced for crimes they had committed.
The sources said that the number of detainees exceeds 180 and authorities here are seeking to bring them to Lebanon in accordance with an agreement signed between the two countries in 1951. Under the deal, the convicts would serve their remaining jail sentences in their home country.