Expected Agreement Between Syria and Lebanon to Arrange Exchange of Convicted Prisoners

The Lebanese Minister of Justice, Adel Nasser, stated that he intends to contact his Syrian counterpart, Mazhar al-Wais, to arrange an agreement between the Lebanese and Syrian sides to exchange convicted prisoners, either to complete their sentences in Syria or Lebanon.

This came during a ministerial and security meeting held by the Lebanese government to discuss the issue of overcrowding in Lebanese prisons, due to the increasing number of prisoners, including Syrian prisoners, and the necessary measures to address this matter, and to establish the legal frameworks that allow for expediting the process.

The newspaper "Al-Sharq Al-Awsat" quoted informed sources as saying that the Lebanese Minister of Justice informed the attendees that in the coming days he will contact his Syrian counterpart to arrange a meeting, whether in Beirut or Damascus, to finalize an agreement related to the exchange of convicts and to sign it.

This means Syria will retrieve Syrian prisoners convicted in Lebanon on criminal charges, or Beirut will retrieve Lebanese prisoners convicted in Syria, to complete their sentences in their respective countries.

The sources indicated that this agreement requires the signature of both ministers, and the approval of the Lebanese parliament on the Lebanese side, for it to proceed to implementation.