Rifi Says Trials of Islamist Inmates National, Humanitarian Demand

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi considered on Monday that putting Islamist inmates on trial is a “national and humanitarian” demand, revealing that the Judicial Council upped its efforts to wrap up the matter.

The minister denied that the trials were put at the forefront due to the pressing demands by the Islamist gunmen, who have taken hostage several policemen and soldiers after they overran the northeastern border town of Arsal in August.

“This is not accurate,” Rifi said in comments published in al-Joumhouria newspaper.

He said that sentences were issued in 22 cases out of 37.

The jihadists have called on the Lebanese government to release Islamist inmates from the country's largest prison in Roumieh in exchange for the captive security personnel.

The cabinet has totally rejected such a measure as the March 14 camp's ministers have called for the speedy trial of the Islamists.

Only a few of the estimated 90 Islamists have been tried. Most of them were arrested over their involvement in bloody clashes with the Lebanese army at the northern refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared in 2007.

H.K.

M.T.

Comments 12
Default-user-icon Mahdi Rostam Firdaus (Guest) 08 September 2014, 09:10

I am sure flamethrower will have an opinion on this one. He has an opinion on everything

Default-user-icon roukuz (Guest) 08 September 2014, 09:50

flamethrower and josephani disagree

Default-user-icon mahdi ballout (Guest) 08 September 2014, 09:58

hahaha! My cousin called me from australia and asked i read your comment. Hilarious flamethrower! Something another:))

Thumb EagleDawn 08 September 2014, 09:59

Excellent comment and adds value to the article.

Thumb _mowaten_ 08 September 2014, 10:34

"Rifi is a good man"... lol. do you want fries with your cheese?

Default-user-icon sukas (Guest) 08 September 2014, 10:53

it´s a disgrace and shame to let people rot in jail for years without trial, no matter the reason they got arrested for. This is a fucked up judicial system that allows this and the Minister should take responsibility for that! And the media should also get aktiv and start investigating and not just reporting whats thrown at their feet.

Default-user-icon cityboy (Guest) 08 September 2014, 10:57

I was thinking exactly the same mowaten. We always thinks the same, it is freaky. Sometimes I think we are the same personand same poster but obviously we have 2 different screen names.

Missing sukas 08 September 2014, 11:02

It´s a disgrace and shame to let people rot in jail for years without trial no matter the reason they got arrested for in the first place, and the Minister should take responsibility for that! And the media should start investigating and not just reporting the petty bits thrown before their feet.

Default-user-icon + oua nabka + (Guest) 08 September 2014, 13:53

what do you expect from a general that disobeyed direct orders from his superiors(barroud and Suleiman )and worst of all their masters made him a justice minister

Thumb kanaandian 08 September 2014, 23:25

is militants in lebanon should too have their head chopped off slowly. we've seen the videos of the apes cry like babies when arrested and humiliated by the iraqi army, perhaps they will slow their crimes down if they know a similiar fate awaits them in lebanese jail. i say kill all these barbaric apes, drown them, peel their skin.. do what it takes to deter their brotherly apes, free in their jungles, from committing any crimes.

Missing helicopter 09 September 2014, 02:47

I must diagree with you l-a-j
Trials are the right of all prisoners, try them and if found guilty then dispense the maximum punishment allowed by law (if it is bullet to the head then be it).

Missing helicopter 09 September 2014, 02:49

bigjohn,
I posted my comment before reading yours, we are saying pretty much the same thing. We normally disagree, but this time we agree.