Lebanese Military Court Sentences Syrian Activist to Two Years in Prison for "Belonging to a Terrorist Group"
The Lebanese military court has sentenced the Syrian activist Diaa Janaah to two years in prison after being convicted of "belonging to a terrorist group," referring to the military council in Qalamoun that Janaah joined during the early stages of the Syrian war.
According to the defense team, Janaah _a Syrian refugee residing in Lebanon since 2017_ had previously participated in the formations of the military council, which resisted the Assad regime under the command of Captain Ahmed Tamer. It is worth noting that Tamer later held a position in the "New Syrian Army" before assuming official duties in the transitional Syrian government.
Janaah's case dates back to July 2024 when he was arrested due to his political and opposition media activities, especially among the Syrian refugee community in the Arsal area. He was also previously detained in 2023 for five months by the Lebanese General Security after appearing in international media interviews _including with the "New York Times" and "NPR"_ discussing the pressures of forcibly repatriating Syrian refugees.
The defense team described the verdict as "unjustified," asserting that the charge lacks legal basis, especially after the integration of the military council in Qalamoun later with the institutions of the new Syrian state, which _according to the defense_ negates its "terrorist" nature.
On the other hand, human rights organizations have expressed concerns about the "politicization of the Lebanese military judiciary," warning against its exploitation to target opponents of the Assad regime, amid reports of Hezbollah's influence on security and judicial decisions.
The verdict comes at a time when the issue of Syrian detainees in Lebanon is escalating tensions between Beirut and Damascus, amid reports of Syrian threats to close border crossings, a claim later denied by the Syrian government.
According to "Al Modon" website, the case is widely discussed in Lebanese circles, especially with over 2000 Syrian detainees, most of whom have been held without fair trials for years.
Official statistics show that Syrian prisoners make up 30% of inmates in Lebanese prisons, including 1750 detainees in central prisons, with final judgments issued against 350 of them, primarily related to "terrorism" or "attacks against the Lebanese army."
