In a tragic development, Roumieh prison witnessed the death of a new prisoner, as “A.Q.”, from the south, committed suicide inside a building designated for juveniles.
Initial information indicates that the prisoner was suffering from severe psychological disorders, which prompted him to end his life in this tragic way.
In a related context, lawyer Mohammad Sablouh stated to : “The condition that the deceased prisoner was going through is not exceptional, as a large number of prisoners are suffering under the current circumstances from severe psychological pressure due to overcrowding and the absence of trials, especially in light of the judicial assistants’ strike. Hence, I urge the judicial assistants to exceptionally stop the strike, as the situation inside prisons can no longer be tolerated, and the continued detention of prisoners for long periods without trials increases the severity of the suffering.”
Sablouh added: “Any session that may be held today will not be sufficient, as the detainee may wait for many months without making actual progress in the course of his case. This reality exacerbates the psychological pressure, especially in light of the overcrowding and difficult conditions inside prisons.”
He stressed that the crisis is deeper than just individual cases, but rather reflects a structural defect resulting from the disruption of constitutional and judicial institutions, which requires the government and the authorities concerned to assume their responsibilities and work seriously to address this urgent humanitarian and legal issue.
Sablouh warned that “the situation in prisons is on the verge of explosion, and those concerned are unaware of this. There is no country in the world that records deaths and suicides inside prisons weekly.”
He pointed out that “tomorrow, Lebanon’s Universal Periodic Review will be held at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, and we ask: What is the official position of the Lebanese state regarding this reality, the serious violations, and the repeated deaths inside prisons? This question is of particular importance in light of Lebanon’s international human rights obligations, and at a time when these issues are being presented to the international community.”
