Head of the Lebanese Lawyers’ Syndicate, Fadi al-Masri, revealed on Monday that Roumieh Prison is operating at more than 250% of its intended capacity, housing over 6,000 inmates despite being built for just 2,800. The facility currently holds more than 60% of Lebanon’s total prison population.
Speaking to Voice of Lebanon radio, al-Masri warned that the situation is untenable, emphasizing that, “this cannot continue.”
He noted that the government has shown willingness to address the crisis, with a decision already made to expedite legal proceedings in an effort to alleviate overcrowding.
Al-Masri also addressed reforms within the syndicate itself, stating that the vetting process for new members has become more rigorous.
“We accepted only 30% of applicants last year,” he concluded, describing it as part of a broader effort to restore the syndicate’s credibility and standards.
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