Rifi Says Trials of Islamist Inmates National, Humanitarian Demand
Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi considered on Monday that putting Islamist inmates on trial is a “national and humanitarian” demand, revealing that the Judicial Council upped its efforts to wrap up the matter.
The minister denied that the trials were put at the forefront due to the pressing demands by the Islamist gunmen, who have taken hostage several policemen and soldiers after they overran the northeastern border town of Arsal in August.
“This is not accurate,” Rifi said in comments published in al-Joumhouria newspaper.
He said that sentences were issued in 22 cases out of 37.
The jihadists have called on the Lebanese government to release Islamist inmates from the country's largest prison in Roumieh in exchange for the captive security personnel.
The cabinet has totally rejected such a measure as the March 14 camp's ministers have called for the speedy trial of the Islamists.
Only a few of the estimated 90 Islamists have been tried. Most of them were arrested over their involvement in bloody clashes with the Lebanese army at the northern refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared in 2007.
H.K.
M.T.
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