Mustaqbal Bloc Voices Support for 'Measures' of Mashnouq, Rifi after Roumieh Scandal

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc on Tuesday voiced support for “the measures taken by Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq and Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi” to address the situations in Lebanese prisons in the wake of the abuse videos that were leaked from Roumieh.

The bloc “joins its voice to their voices and to the voice of the vast majority of Lebanese in their demand for pressing on with the investigation in a transparent and strict manner,” it said in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.

Al-Mustaqbal also called for “a fair trial for the perpetrators of this crime,” urging “accountability and the severest penalties.”

Both Mashnouq and Rifi have pledged accountability and announced the detention of five ISF personnel, after videos of security guards abusing Roumieh prison inmates went viral on social networking websites.

The two videos, apparently filmed on cellphones, appear to show guards at the prison humiliating detainees and beating them with plastic pipes.

The abuse took place around two months ago, according to Mashnouq, which prompted observers to question the timing of the leaks.

Some observers and media outlets have speculated that Rifi might be involved in the leaks with the aim of tarnishing Mashnouq's reputation and standing as interior minister. Mashnouq and Rifi are both members of al-Mustaqbal movement and observers see them as potential candidates to the post of prime minister.

However, Mashnouq dismissed the media reports as baseless on Monday and Rifi stressed Tuesday that his relation with the interior minister is excellent, accusing Hizbullah of being behind the leaks.

Al-Mustaqbal bloc also lauded Mashnouq's decision to ask the International Committee of the Red Cross to inspect Lebanon's prisons and his efforts to “improve the conditions of the prisons in a manner that fully respects human rights.”

The bloc called for “improving the law and regulations governing prisons in Lebanon,” stressing the need to “quickly establish a national commission for the prevention of torture, in line with the international treaty on combating torture.”

Turning to the issue of the presidential vacuum, al-Mustaqbal called on MPs and political forces to “realize the important and need to elect a president in the 25th (electoral) session scheduled for tomorrow.”

“Failure to do that would dangerously aggravate the constitutional, security, economic and social crises that the country is going through,” the bloc warned.

The cabinet has been paralyzed since early June when Prime Minister Tammam Salam suspended the sessions over a dispute on the appointment of high-ranking security and military officials.

The parliament has also been paralyzed over a dispute between the rival MPs on the presidential elections.

Their rivalry has left Baabda Palace vacant since the expiry of President Michel Suleiman's term in May last year.

Y.R.