Lebanese activist Georges Ibrahim Abdallah left the Lannemezan prison (Hautes-Pyrénées) this Friday, July 25. He had been detained in France for more than forty years. Convicted in the 1980s for complicity in the assassination of two diplomats an American and an Israeli, although he has always proclaimed his innocence. He is now flying to Lebanon. The Paris Court of Appeal ordered its release under condition that it does not return to France.
From prison to exile
Escorted by police at 3:30 am, Abdallah left Lannemezan prison (Hautes-Pyrénées). At 74, he took a flight from Tarbes to Paris, then another towards Beirut. His lawyer underlined his joy despite the difficult situation in the Middle East. He also praised the respect he benefited in detention. Before the prison, around 200 people demonstrated in support.
A return expected in Lebanon
Relatives of Abdallah hope for an official and popular welcome when he arrives. Despite the opposition of the general prosecutor’s office and the United States, French justice has maintained its decision. His supporters consider this liberation as a major political victory.
The roots of an ancient conflict
Sentenced for facts related to the Lebanese civil war and the Israeli invasion of South Lebanon, Abdallah was the leader of Lebanese revolutionary armed fractions (FARL), a dissolved Marxist group. He has always denied any direct involvement in these assassinations. He also refused to condemn what he described as resistance against Israel and the United States. Although eligible for parole since 1999, his requests had been rejected until recently.
