FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 02, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF) welcomes the first step in the transfer of Syrian detainees in Lebanon, as authorities begin freeing 300 individuals who had been convicted in politically motivated trials. Since 2014, Hezbollah and complicit Lebanese authorities have arrested hundreds of Syrian refugees, particularly Syrian revolution supporters, and sentenced them in unfair military proceedings, despite repeated repatriation efforts by Syria’s new government. Many detainees endured harsh treatment, medical neglect, and overcrowded prisons, and tragically, some have not survived to see freedom.
These unlawful detentions began after Hezbollah’s 2013 capture of Qusayr and Western Qalamoun, which forced thousands of Syrians to flee to Lebanon and settle in camps without basic services or legal protections. Detainees faced the Hezbollah-influenced Lebanese Military Court, known for politically motivated rulings, often without proper trials or legal recourse. Conditions in prisons such as Roumieh Central Prison, designed for 1,400 but holding over 4,000, exacerbated the suffering.
Lebanon and Syria have now reached a formal agreement, under which Syrian prisoners will gradually be transferred back to Syria. The first phase focuses on around 300 convicted prisoners who have served long terms, while others will undergo individual judicial review before transfer.
SETF played a role through sustained advocacy, including engagement with members of the U.S. Congress and Senate, public awareness campaigns, and coordinated pressure through multiple channels. While this marks an important first step, thousands of Syrians remain unlawfully detained, and the Lebanese government is still finalizing procedures for their release. SETF will continue to advocate for the freedom of all Syrians and Lebanese wrongfully imprisoned for their support of basic rights, freedom and dignity.
Maryam Kamalmaz, SETF’s Director for Detainee Affairs expressed, “Syria’s liberation in December 2024 ended a brutal prison era, yet many Syrians and Lebanese remained wrongfully detained in Lebanon for their opposition and beliefs towards the Assad regime. While we welcome this agreement and first step to release Syrian detainees in Lebanon as a long-overdue correction of injustice, we won’t rest until justice is complete; until every innocent prisoner is freed and their rights fully restored.”
SETF applauds this initial release and calls on the international community to remain engaged to prevent future abuses and ensure justice for all those still detained.
For inquiries, please contact:
Maria Cure, Director of Communications
[email protected] www.setf.ngo
