Abdallah's Supporters Meet Charbel: We Will Continue our Actions until He is Released

The international campaign for the liberation of Lebanese leftist militant Georges Ibrahim Abdallah announced on Monday that it will continue its actions against French interests in Lebanon until his release, reported Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5).

“We will continue our actions until real measures to release Abdallah are taken,” members of the campaign said after holding talks with Interior Minister Marwan Charbel.

Charbel for his part promised to echo the campaign's call on the French government to release Abdallah, but discouraged violations against the French embassy, As Safir daily reported Monday.

“Violating the French embassy in Lebanon is a red line,” he told the daily.

“We will also echo their calls in a civilized manner to the French government, demanding the release of Abdallah who has been in detention for 28 years and should be released,” added the minister.

On Sunday, protesters demanding the release of Abdallah from prison in France staged a demonstration outside the French embassy.

The protesters angrily pelted tomatoes and eggs at the embassy, and stressed that they will continue their “peaceful and democratic” actions against French interests in Lebanon until Abdallah's release.

These include banks, companies, and institutes.

On the possibility of forming a ministerial committee to follow up Abdallah's case, Charbel said “I will put this suggestion forward to the cabinet in a bid to form a committee composed initially of the Ministers of Justice, Foreign Affairs and Interior, in addition to some experts.”

A French court granted Abdallah parole in November on condition he be deported, but the interior ministry has yet to issue the deportation order.

The court postponed its decision on his release until January 28.

The supporters of Abdallah fear that the postponement is a first step to renew his detention.