Alkarama Foundation

On Thursday 22 July 2010, in an open letter addressed to the Lebanese Minister of Justice, Dr. Ibrahim Najjar, Lebanese and International Human Rights NGOs appealed for an urgent approval of a draft law for the establishment of the National Preventative Mechanism (NPM), in accordance with the Optional Protocol of the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT).

On the evening of 31 March 2010, Lebanese authorities released Fadi Sabunah after nearly two years arbitrary detention. The investigative judge responsible for case related to the events that occurred in the Nahr Al-Bared refugee camp in 2008. During his 18 month detention, Fadi Sabunah was detained incommunicado and tortured for 35 consecutive days. He was then subsequently interrogated and tried by both civilian and military judges. He was accused of belonging to a terrorist cell responsible for attacks which targeted army units in Al-'Abda in the north of Lebanon, in May 2008, and in Tripoli between August and September 2008.