Country: Lebanon

After years of political stalemate, Lebanon continues to suffer from recurrent human rights violations and a lack of political will to address issues such as the practice of torture or restrictions to freedom of speech.

In the context of the spill over from the Syrian conflict and the country’s unstable security situation, the authorities have subjected individuals – including refugees – suspected of terrorism to severe abuses. These include prolonged periods of incommunicado detention during which torture is routinely used to both punish the detainees and extract confessions to be used later as evidence.

Furthermore, as a result of Lebanon’s exceptional justice system, numerous individuals are subjected to unfair trials before the Judicial Council – a political body whose judges are appointed by the executive – or military tribunal, which is composed of military officers appointed by the minister of defence.

Lastly, in recent years, the authorities have judicially harassed citizens who have peacefully expressed their opinion, including on social media, particularly when they have expressed criticism of members of the government or the army. They risk prosecution under vaguely defined accusations of “libel” and “defamation”, and are also at risk or are being subjected to censorship.

Call to the government of Lebanon to recognise the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) over events since October 8, 2023

MENA Rights Group joins 19 NGOs in calling on the Government of Lebanon to recognise the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court over crimes committed on its territory since October 8, 2023, to ensure accountability and justice for victims.

Enforced disappearances in the context of transnational repression in the MENA

1 Introduction 1.1 Transnational repression in the MENA According to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), transnational repression refers to “acts conducted or directed by a State, or its proxy, to deter, silence or punish dissent, criticism or human rights advocacy towards it, expressed from outside its territory.”[1] These acts often […]

Lebanon’s Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council: civil society raises alarm on torture, refoulement, and transnational repression

During Lebanon’s Universal Periodic Review on January 19, 2026, MENA Rights Group submitted an alternative report documenting torture, refoulement, and transnational repression. On the same day, MENA Rights Group and partners held a side event in Geneva to discuss these findings. The issues raised were reflected in several recommendations made to Lebanon by UN Member […]

Lebanon: Year Since Poet Unlawfully Extradited to UAE

Al-Qaradawi Arbitrarily Detained in Near-Incommunicado Conditions

One year since the arrest of Abdulrahman Yusuf al-Qaradawi: a year of complicity, enforced disappearance, and diplomatic failure

On the first anniversary of his arrest, 17 human rights organisations condemn the arrest and extradition of Egyptian–Turkish poet and dissident Abdulrahman Yusuf al-Qaradawi, describing it as an unlawful act of transnational repression.

Lebanon’s role in transnational repression

1. Introduction This joint stakeholder report is submitted by Cedar Center for Legal Studies and MENA Rights Group to the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council, in the context of the fourth cycle of Lebanon’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR). It examines Lebanon’s role in facilitating transnational repression,[1] in law and in practice, and makes concrete […]

Lebanon: Seven years of enacting a torture law without effective implementation

26 June 2025 On the occasion of 26 June, the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture- which symbolizes the global commitment to ending the practice of torture and other ill-treatment- we, the undersigned organizations, express our deep concern over the ongoing impunity for the crime of torture in Lebanon and the lack of […]

UN event highlights human rights abuses in MENA region under the guise of counter-terrorism

On the sidelines of the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council, MENA Rights Group co-organised a side event bringing together civil society actors and the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism to discuss concerning trends of counter-terrorism abuse and its negative impact on human rights across the MENA region.

Joint Letter: Protect blast investigation from interference, obstruction

MENA Rights Group, alongside 17 international and national human rights organizations and the families of the victims of the August 2020 port blast, is calling on the Prime Minister and the Justice Minister to take all necessary steps to ensure that the investigation into the blast proceeds without any interference or obstruction.

In solidarity with Daraj and Megaphone amid a coordinated campaign

MENA Rights Group joins 59 partners in solidarity with Daraj and Megaphone amid a coordinated defamatory campaign by Lebanon’s banking sector lobby.