Lebanon: Alleged arbitrary detentions

                          Case LBN 040399


The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your urgent intervention 
regarding the following situation in Lebanon.

Brief description of the situation

The International Secretariat has just been informed by a reliable source 
of the alleged arbitrary detention of Mrs Amal Ajjouri Freizy and the 
possible arrest of Mr. Hanna Kalakeshin Lebanon.

According to the information, on 22 February 1999, Mrs Amal Ajjouri 
Freizy was arrested without warrant at her home, in Dekwaneh, Beirut, by 
members of the Lebanese security services, accused of collaborating 
with Israel.  She is likely to be held at the Lebanese Ministry of Defense 
facilities.

Mrs Ajjouri Freizy is the sister of Mr. Adel Khalaf Ajjouri, arrested in 
Syria on 5 May 1990 and also accused of collaborating with Israel.

There are also unconfirmed reports according to which, there is a strong 
likelihood that Mr. Hanna Kalakesh, from Sin El Fil, Beirut, and a former 
Lebanese sergeant, was also arrested without warrant by the Lebanese 
security services, and accused of cooperating with Israel.

Action requested

Please write to the authorities of Lebanon urging them to

i.  guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Mrs Amal 
    Ajjouri Freizy and Mr. Hanna Kalakesh and order their 
    immediate release in the absence of valid legal charges or, if 
    such charges exist, bring them before an impartial and 
    competent tribunal and guarantee their procedural rights in all 
    times;

ii. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental 
    freedoms throughout the country in accordance with 
    international human rights standards.

Addresses

His Excellency President Emile Lahoud, Office of the President, Ba'abda 
Palace, Ba'bda, Lebanon
Fax	+ 961 1 425 393

His Excellency Joseph Chaoul, Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice, 
Rue Sami Solh, Beirut
Lebanon, Fax	+ 961 1 422 957

Geneva, 4th March 1999

The Human Rights Action Network, a part of Derechos Human Rights, distributes appeals on behalf of victims of human rights violations. You are invited to join the network. Please check the date of the present action and do not write if it's over a month old.