Lebanese Demonstrate at French Embassy, Demand Immediate Release of Abdallah

Local Editor

Lebanese demonstrators rallied before the French embassy in Beirut on Monday, blocking the road after a French court postponed the release of Lebanese leftist activist George Abdallah, who has spent 28 years in jail.
Abdallah's supporters demonstrated in front of the French embassy in the Mat-haf area, condemning the policies of France and accusing it of being a proxy for the imperialist US, which has openly rejected the release of the Lebanese activist.
Several young demonstrators tried to storm the embassy and shoved eggs at the building but were repelled by security forces who reinforced their presence in its vicinity.
Along with the demonstrators were Abdallah's family members, political figures, activists, and representatives of political factions too.
Abdallah's brother, Joseph who was among the protesters urged everyone to back off from attacking the building and called for abiding by democratic means of expression. Joseph vowed the protests will continue until the release of his brother.

On a related note, PM Mikati phoned French Ambassador to Lebanon Patrice Paoli, telling him that such delay is an unjustified step that violates Abdallah's civil rights.
"The relevant French authorities must speed up his release so that he returns to his homeland and family," Mikati told the diplomat, accentuating that "the Lebanese government has been following this case ever since it assumed its responsibilities and was preparing to welcome Abdallah upon his arrival in Lebanon."

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 attaché 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: al-Ahed news, translated and edited by moqawama.org