Head of Syrian Relief Commission Says its Official Arrested without Warrant

The head of the Syrian Relief Commission, Nabil al-Halabi, criticized the arrest of the commission’s office head Wael al-Khalidi, reported the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat on Sunday.

He told the daily that al-Khalidi was arrested without an arrest warrant at Rafik Hariri International Airport on Saturday.

“He was arrested by the army intelligence without a warrant and three days after his residence in Majdal Anjar was raided,” he revealed.

“Medical supplies al-Khalidi was seeking to send to Syria was confiscated,” he continued.

Furthermore, al-Halabi revealed that a Syrian activist was arrested in al-Zabadani region and another in Majdal Anjar because they were present at al-Khalidi’s residence.

They were released from custody a day after being detained, he stated.

Al-Halabi said that the activists were questioned over a shooting incident in the Bekaa city of Zahle.

He did not provide further details on the issue.

Al-Halabi asserted to the daily that his colleague was arrested over his relief work to Syria, deeming his detention as illegal “because it was made by a non-judicial power, which is a violation of Lebanese penal laws.”

According to the National News Agency Saturday, al-Khalidi was arrested upon an arrest warrant issued by the examining magistrate in Bekaa.

The reason behind the arrest remained unclear.