The Syrian Future Movement expresses its deep condemnation of the tragic incident that claimed the life of Syrian citizen Suleiman Ahmad Qarqamas, following his arrest by Lebanese General Security personnel on the evening of Tuesday, July 29, without a legal arrest warrant and under conditions that violate the most basic principles of human rights and human dignity. His body was returned to his family bearing clear signs of torture, a flagrant violation of Lebanese and Syrian law and the established rules of international human rights law.
Accordingly, the Syrian Future Movement demands the following:
First: The Lebanese government must take urgent measures in accordance with Lebanese law, including:
- Opening a transparent and independent criminal investigation into the incident, in accordance with the provisions of Article 3 of the Lebanese Code of Criminal Procedure, which allows for the initiation of public prosecution in the event of a crime.
- Prosecuting the officers and personnel responsible for the crime, in accordance with the provisions of the Lebanese Penal Code, particularly the articles related to torture and causing death.
- Publishing the results of the investigation to the Lebanese and Syrian public, and strengthening judicial oversight mechanisms over the work of the security services to prevent the recurrence of such violations.
Second: The Syrian government, as the body authorized to represent the victim, must take the following measures under Syrian law:
- Officially request the Lebanese government to conduct an independent investigation and hold the perpetrators accountable.
- Open a legal case with the Syrian Public Prosecution against the perpetrators, based on Article 12 of the Syrian Penal Code, which allows for the prosecution of crimes committed against Syrian citizens outside Syrian territory.
- Seek financial and moral compensation for the harm caused to the victim’s family, in accordance with the provisions of civil liability under Syrian law.
Third: Under international agreements:
- What the Syrian citizen was subjected to constitutes a violation of the 1984 Convention against Torture (CAT), which Lebanon has ratified.
- Arrest without a warrant constitutes a violation of Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which requires respect for basic due process.
- We call on international organizations, particularly the Committee against Torture and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, to follow up on the case and investigate it internationally.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms that protecting Syrian refugees and residents in Lebanon is a shared legal and moral responsibility. It emphasizes the need to establish a transparent accountability mechanism in accordance with national and international law, ensuring justice and restoring confidence in official authorities and institutions.
