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Dadparvar
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Amnesty International stated Wednesday that Lebanon’s recent Shura Council ruling in actor Ziad Itani’s case signifies a pivotal moment in the battle against torture and impunity. Amnesty said the ruling, announced on December 5, 2024, is not only crucial for recognizing the Lebanese government’s accountability for the torture endured by Itani but also for requiring restitution for his physical and mental harm.
Amnesty said the state failed to safeguard Itani’s presumption of innocence. Authorities and the press disclosed harmful information from the initial inquiry, greatly harming his reputation and leading to extensive public disgrace. This violation of confidentiality and fair trial standards exacerbated the damage to Itani, a shortcoming directly linked to organizations such as the State Security Directorate, the Supreme Defense Council, and the National Council for Audiovisual Media, all of which failed to fulfill their oversight responsibilities.
Amnesty International also highlighted a missed opportunity for justice in another landmark case involving the death of Syrian refugee Bashar Abd Saud, who died after being tortured by Lebanese State Security forces. Despite clear evidence of torture, a Lebanese military court downgraded charges against accused personnel from felony to misdemeanors, significantly reducing their sentences. Amnesty International criticized this decision as perpetuating impunity and undermining Lebanon’s Anti-Torture Law of 2017.
In 2017, Ziad Itani faced false accusations of collaborating with Israel, a claim later disproven, yet he suffered extreme torture inflicted by the Lebanese State Security forces. His suffering involved severe actions like whipping, hanging, restraining, and wounds that led to fractured teeth. Itani’s situation highlights the entrenched problems in Lebanon’s judicial, security, and administrative systems, which have frequently faced allegations of negligence and complicity in human rights violations.
The decision of the Shura Council highlighted numerous significant shortcomings of the Lebanese state. Initially, the state did not prevent or safeguard Itani from torture, breaching both international agreements and Lebanon’s national laws that ban torture. Despite substantial proof, such as admissions from State Security officials and validation of a designated “black room” for torture, the Lebanese government failed to act to prevent these violations or protect detainees.
The Shura Council condemned the Lebanese state for not holding offenders accountable, even granting promotions to those responsible for Itani’s torture. The ruling underscored how systemic impunity continued even after official apologies, including one from the then-Prime Minister, and revealed the Ministry of Justice’s failure to prosecute the perpetrators.
The decision granted Itani 480 million Lebanese pounds ($ 5,360,13) in compensation, signifying an unusual recognition of state accountability for these human rights violations. Amnesty International praised the ruling, highlighting its significance as a crucial shift in Lebanon’s battle against torture and calling on Lebanese officials to leverage this decision to enact substantial reforms and eliminate impunity.
The post Rights group says Lebanon court landmark ruling must end torture and impunity appeared first on JURIST - News.
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Amnesty said the state failed to safeguard Itani’s presumption of innocence. Authorities and the press disclosed harmful information from the initial inquiry, greatly harming his reputation and leading to extensive public disgrace. This violation of confidentiality and fair trial standards exacerbated the damage to Itani, a shortcoming directly linked to organizations such as the State Security Directorate, the Supreme Defense Council, and the National Council for Audiovisual Media, all of which failed to fulfill their oversight responsibilities.
Amnesty International also highlighted a missed opportunity for justice in another landmark case involving the death of Syrian refugee Bashar Abd Saud, who died after being tortured by Lebanese State Security forces. Despite clear evidence of torture, a Lebanese military court downgraded charges against accused personnel from felony to misdemeanors, significantly reducing their sentences. Amnesty International criticized this decision as perpetuating impunity and undermining Lebanon’s Anti-Torture Law of 2017.
In 2017, Ziad Itani faced false accusations of collaborating with Israel, a claim later disproven, yet he suffered extreme torture inflicted by the Lebanese State Security forces. His suffering involved severe actions like whipping, hanging, restraining, and wounds that led to fractured teeth. Itani’s situation highlights the entrenched problems in Lebanon’s judicial, security, and administrative systems, which have frequently faced allegations of negligence and complicity in human rights violations.
The decision of the Shura Council highlighted numerous significant shortcomings of the Lebanese state. Initially, the state did not prevent or safeguard Itani from torture, breaching both international agreements and Lebanon’s national laws that ban torture. Despite substantial proof, such as admissions from State Security officials and validation of a designated “black room” for torture, the Lebanese government failed to act to prevent these violations or protect detainees.
The Shura Council condemned the Lebanese state for not holding offenders accountable, even granting promotions to those responsible for Itani’s torture. The ruling underscored how systemic impunity continued even after official apologies, including one from the then-Prime Minister, and revealed the Ministry of Justice’s failure to prosecute the perpetrators.
The decision granted Itani 480 million Lebanese pounds ($ 5,360,13) in compensation, signifying an unusual recognition of state accountability for these human rights violations. Amnesty International praised the ruling, highlighting its significance as a crucial shift in Lebanon’s battle against torture and calling on Lebanese officials to leverage this decision to enact substantial reforms and eliminate impunity.
The post Rights group says Lebanon court landmark ruling must end torture and impunity appeared first on JURIST - News.
Continue reading...
Note: We don't have any responsibilities about this news. Its been posted here by Feed Reader and we had no controls and checking on it. And because News posted here will be deleted automatically after 21 days, threads are closed so that no one spend time to post and discuss here. You can always check the source and discuss in their site.