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Lebanon

Beirut, Lebanon: A protester's hand baring the word, 'revolution'
Beirut, Lebanon: A protester's hand baring the word, 'revolution'

Instead of supporting those impacted by the Beirut explosion and the severe economic crisis, the Lebanese state is attacking its population.

On 4 August 2020, a large explosion in the port area of Beirut killed over 200 people with an estimated 6,000 more injured and 300,000 left homeless.

Only a few days after the blast, the Lebanese army and security forces shot at unarmed, largely peaceful crowds protesting against the government's inaction and corruption.

So far Lebanon’s President has rejected calls for an international inquiry in to the incident.

Lebanon: Pager attacks 'bear the hallmarks of a sinister dystopian nightmare' - witness testimonies

Pager and walkie-talkie attacks are war crimes

Lebanon: Israel has shelled border towns with white phosphorous - new evidence

The Israeli army fired artillery shells containing white phosphorus in military operations along Lebanon’s southern border between10 and 16 October, Amnesty International said today following an investigation. One attack on the southern border town of Dhayra on 16 was clearly indiscriminate, and injured at least nine civilians, and should be investigated as a war crime.

Lebanon: Release of all suspects in Beirut port blast prompts demand for urgent UN action

Latest move shows domestic investigation cannot deliver justice

Lebanon: Government must immediately stop ‘so-called voluntary returns’ of Syrian refugees

1,600 Syrian refugees face being returned from next week

Syria: refugees face detention, torture and death on return – new report

Amnesty International documents appalling human rights violations committed by Syrian intelligence officers
Lebanon

Lebanon: authorities must not send six recently-arrested Syrians back to Syria

The Lebanese authorities must not deport six Syrian refugees who were arrested last week after collecting their passports from the Syrian embassy, said Amnesty International, which is urging the authorities to release the refugees unless they are charged with a recognisable offence.
Lebanon

Lebanon: authorities 'brazenly' obstructing investigation into Beirut explosion

The Lebanese authorities have spent the past year shamelessly obstructing victims’ quest for truth and justice following the catastrophic port explosion in Beirut, said Amnesty International today, ahead of the one-year anniversary of the devastating blast.
Lebanon

Lebanon: Syrian refugees subjected to same shocking torture techniques used in Assad's jails - new report

The Lebanese security forces have committed shocking human rights violations against Syrian refugees arrested - often arbitrarily - on terrorism-related charges.
Lebanon

UK/Lebanon: Fire Brigades Union joins call for investigation into Beirut explosion

The Fire Brigades Union has joined Amnesty International in calling on the UK government to press for a full international investigation into the devastating explosion in Beirut three months ago.
Lebanon

Lebanon: international investigation needed into Beirut explosion - fresh call

One month on since the deadly blast in Beirut’s port, it is increasingly clear that the processes the Lebanese authorities have established to investigate the tragic events of 4 August are neither independent nor impartial.

20 minutes of life and death in Beirut

'“That was close”. This is the first sentence my 3-year old son Kian told me as he got out of the car after finally reaching home.'

A personal account by Beirut resident, Rana Khoury

Outside Lebanon - inside the blast

'August 4 seemed to be another regular weekday in my living room in Turkey; little did I know that 10 minutes later my whole life would change.'

Farah Abou El Sel - Lebanese human rights activist

Lebanon: Don't let the criminals be the judges

The August 4 explosion exposed the lethal recklessness that has come to define the ruling establishment in Lebanon. It's time for their day of reckoning.

Lebanon: Drastic problems require radical solutions

"Today, our public institutions are hijacked by an occupying force that places no value on life and therefore, we need to dismantle it."

Lebanese journalist, Jon Dagher on challenging corruption & impunity in Lebanon.
Lebanon

Lebanon: security forces sprayed protesters with rubber bullets and tear gas canisters

The Lebanese army and security forces - as well as unidentified men in civilian clothes - shot at unarmed crowds during protests in Beirut following last week’s devastating explosion in the port district of the city.
Beirut explosion

Joint statement with Fire Brigades Union (FBU)

Lebanon's Fire Brigades Union and Amnesty International UK call on the UK Government to support and international investigation in the the Beirut explosion
Beirut explosion

Beirut explosion

On 4 August 2020, a large explosion in the port area of Beirut killed at least 180 people and left an estimated 6,000 more injured based on UN figures. We are calling for an international independent investigation to ensure truth, justice and reparations for victims.