The Lebanese Association of Detained and Forcibly Disappeared Persons in Syrian Prisons has demanded the immediate resignation of Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdallah Bou Habib, along with an apology. This comes after Lebanon’s abstention, on Thursday, from voting on a resolution aimed at uncovering the fate of missing persons in Syria.
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The association held the Prime Minister and the Council accountable for this position, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, whom they referred to as “unpatriotic.”
“On this occasion, and following the irresponsible and reckless position of the minister, who disavows his responsibilities, role, authorities, and national conscience, we call on him to resign immediately from his position and apologize, first to the families of the detainees and forcibly disappeared victims in Assad’s prisons, and secondly, to all Lebanese who suffer from the appointment of lackeys of some politicians who assumed their positions in the neglect of these difficult times,” the association said in a statement on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates issued a statement on Friday clarifying its stance.
“This decision aligns with the Arab consensus to abstain from voting and reflects Lebanon’s desire not to politicize this humanitarian issue,” the ministry stated.
“It is also in line with the policy of not being swayed by divisive voting that exacerbates problems and does not solve the issue of the missing Lebanese, which remains an open wound and a lasting pain for their families,” it added.
The Ministry noted that Lebanon’s support for the UN resolution, had it been granted, “could have undermined the work of the Arab ministerial committee, in which Lebanon actively participates.” This committee is dedicated to resolving issues with Syria and holds an integral role in ongoing diplomatic efforts to address regional challenges.
The Association of Lebanese Detainees in Syrian Prisons condemned this stance against the 622 detained individuals in Assad’s prisons.
“We will stand with those who assist and support us as an impenetrable shield against this corrupt government until the liberation of our living detainees and the retrieval of the remains of those who have died,” the association stressed in its statement.
In an earlier interview with LBCI, Bou Habib stated that most Arab countries would also vote against the latest UN resolution.
Human Rights Watch, and over a hundred other Syrian and international human rights organizations, had previously called on UN member countries to vote in favor of establishing a humanitarian body to address the issue of missing persons during the 12-year war in Syria.
In an interview with This is Beirut, MP Antoine Habchi, from the Strong Republic parliamentary bloc, noted that “the international independent committee established for the sole purpose of following up on the issue of the forcefully kidnapped and disappeared in Syria should be lauded and welcomed by every Lebanese citizen, especially the Lebanese government.”
He criticized those who forsake their sense of belonging and refuse to vote on the decision, emphasizing that it betrays Lebanese citizens detained in Syria, whose fate remains unknown.
Habchi added that “it is also a betrayal against Lebanese Army soldiers detained in Syria.”
In a tweet on Friday, MP Ashraf Rifi described Lebanon’s abstention from voting as an “ethical and national setback.”
MP Jihad Pakradouni condemned the decision on Twitter, stating that “it is a shame for Lebanese authorities and diplomacy to abstain from voting.”
In an earlier statement, Lawyer Elie Mahfoud, the head of the Change Movement, criticized Bou Habib’s statement and mentioned that it follows the Free Patriotic Movement’s typical rhetoric.
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In the evening, the National Commission for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared Persons considered the official Lebanese position “a regrettable and unjustified setback in the official approach to this humanitarian issue, which is of utmost significance and dignity.”
In a statement, the commission welcomed the UN resolution regarding missing and forcibly disappeared persons in Syria, “as well as any similar resolution concerning the disclosure of the fate of missing and forcibly disappeared persons in any country worldwide”. It also stated, “The commission is committed to this issue and works toward achieving justice for the victims of forced disappearances in Lebanon and elsewhere.”
“The right of the families of missing persons to know the fate of their loved ones is a natural right enshrined by the legislation No. 105/2018, which also establishes the duty and responsibility of the National Commission for Missing and Forcibly Disappeared Persons in Lebanon to cooperate and coordinate with all national and international entities in the pursuit of truth and the search for missing and forcibly disappeared persons,” the commission added. “This affirms the commission’s independence from any other authority and from the state’s position on the UN resolution.”
The National Commission had called upon the government to adopt a practical stance that reflects its commitment to bringing the issue of missing and forcibly disappeared persons in Lebanon to a logical conclusion.
This can be achieved by involving the National Commission for Missing and Forcibly Disappeared Persons, at least through consultation, in any position related to this matter.
