France Surrenders to US Pressures: George Abdullah’s Release Delayed

Local Editor

French media reported Monday that Paris will postpone the deportation of the pro-Palestinian Lebanese prisoner, George Abdullah.
 
According to agencies, the procedures related to his deportation have been postponed until Jan. 28. This comes after the French interior minister, Manuel Valls, refused Abdullah's deportation judicial decision.

Hours earlier, US criticized the French decision to grant Abdullah parole and asked Paris to refrain from releasing "a terrorist, who poses a threat."
"He had never expressed remorse and could yet be a threat if released," US Ambassador to France Charles Rivkin stated.

Meanwhile, Abdullah's brother, Joseph, accused Washington of pressuring the French authorities not to release George, while Paris is encouraged to disregard laws and justice as the Lebanese authorities remain in the position of spectator.
"All those who were ready to receive George at the airport will protest in front of the French embassy," he warned, and expressed surprise by the deferment of his brother's deportation.

Joseph further warned that they "may recourse to escalatory steps in case Abdullah is not released."
Similarly, the Union of Lebanese Democratic Youth issued a statement whereby it declared that "this is the battle of freedom and dignity", stressing that they will be "up to the challenge".
The statement also called for gathering outside the French embassy as of 1 pm, "in order to show them who stands by George Abdullah."

The 61-year-old was granted parole in November on condition of his expulsion but was not released pending a decision on an appeal by prosecutors.
The court in Paris confirmed the parole decision and was said the interior ministry had until January 14 to issue the expulsion order.
Abdullah was arrested in 1984 and sentenced to life in prison three years later for his alleged involvement in the 1982 deaths of US military attache Charles Robert Ray and "Israeli" diplomat, Yacov Barsimantov.

Abdullah had been eligible for parole from 1999 onwards but failed in seven previous bids to be released.


Source: News Agencies, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org