Daryan: Roumieh Prison Abuse Tarnishes Lebanon's Image Abroad

Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan condemned on Tuesday the abuse of inmates in Roumieh Prison, deeming it a “crime and violation of Islamic morals.”

He said: “The abuse tarnishes Lebanon's image before the international community.”

He made his remarks before a delegation from the Islamic Cultural Center.

“Prisoners should not be treated in a manner that violates the simplest legal rules,” he stressed.

“We have learned that dignity belongs to a human being regardless of his affiliation, religion, or race,” continued Daryan.

He also reiterated his call for the election of a new president following over a year of vacuum in the country's top Christian post.

Addressing regional developments and the spread of extremism, Daryan said: “We are an ummah that believes in Islam and Arabism, which both stress mercy and acknowledging the other.”

“Islam is the religion of tolerance and openness towards others,” he added.

On Sunday, videos emerged of guards beating Roumieh Prison inmates.

Roumieh is Lebanon's largest prison and has long been infamous for the poor conditions in some of its blocks, including overcrowding and harsh treatment.

Other parts of it, however, had become virtual no-go zones for security, with prisoners running their affairs and able to access laptops, phones and money, until security forces cleared Roumieh's Block B in January.

On Tuesday, State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr charged five guards with abusing the prisoners.

M.T.

D.A.