The Human Rights Actions Network
www.derechos.org/human-rights/actions/
ACTION REQUEST
Case LBN 050899
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 presumed arbitrary arrest and detention of two alleged political
opponents, Mr. Antoun Khoury Harb and Mr. Bassam Youssef.
According to information received, on August 1st 1999, while the two
Lebanese people were distributing flyers protesting against the Army,
they were arrested without warrant.
Mr. Harb and Mr. Youssef may be held in detention by the Lebanese
security forces in Tripoli. At least one of them, Mr. Harb, has been
denied access to his lawyer. There are no further information on their
current condition.
Given the circumstances of their arrest and detention, the International
Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned for the physical and
psychological integrity of Mr. Youssef and Mr. Harb.
Action requested
Please write to the Lebanese authorities urging them to
i. guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Mr.
Antoun Khoury Harb and Mr. Bassam Youssef 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;
ii. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental
freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national
laws and 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, August 5 1999
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this
appeal in your reply.
