Lebanese man death in UAE custody raises questions about possible mistreatment
A Lebanese man who was detained in the United Arab Emirates on unknown charges has died in custody, rights observers and family members said, raising questions about his possible mistreatment by authorities.
A committee of family members of Lebanese citizens detained in the UAE, including the man who died earlier this month, alleged in a statement that Ghazi Ezzedine, 55, had died under torture.
The UAE foreign ministry did not immediately respond to an Associated Press request for comment.
Sima Watling, a researcher with Amnesty International focused on the Arab Gulf country, said that according to Ezzedine's family, he had been arrested on March 22 along with eight other people, including two of his brothers, on unknown charges.
Ezzedine died on May 4, she said. His family was only notified several days later, when his son was asked by authorities to come to the cemetery and identify the body, she added. Ezzedine's son was only permitted to see his father's face, while his body was kept covered.
UAE authorities denied the family's request to bring him back to Lebanon for burial, Watling said. The two brothers who were detained along with him were subsequently released from detention but banned from leaving the country.
A Lebanese official who is following the case told The Associated Press that Ezzedine's cause of death was unknown. He said eight members of the same family were detained for unknown reasons. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because diplomatic contacts between Lebanon and the UAE are ongoing regarding the death and the repatriation of the body.
Afif Shouman, head of a group of Lebanese families with relatives detained in the Gulf country, said Ezzedine had lived in the UAE for 30 years "without so much as a traffic ticket."
There were "no suspicions about the man that he got involved in political matters or even religious ones," he said.
UAE authorities have detained dozens of Lebanese, mostly Shiites, in the past over alleged links to Iran-backed Hezbollah. The UAE, like other Gulf Cooperation Council members, considers Hezbollah a "terrorist organization."
In 2019, the UAE sentenced one Lebanese national to life in prison and two to ten years in prison on charges of links to Hezbollah.
Amnesty International said in a statement at the time the trial of the men "failed to meet international fair trial standards," as the evidence included confessions that were "extracted under duress, and the defendants were detained incommunicado for months and denied access to lawyers during interrogation and investigation."
Watling said Amnesty is concerned about the lack of transparency regarding Ezzedine's case and the linked detentions.
"If it is found that his death was indeed unlawful, they must ensure that all those suspected of torture and unlawful killing, including those with command responsibility, are held accountable," she said.
13 May 2023, 16:03
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If you possess affiliations with Hizbullah, it is advisable to refrain from venturing into the Arabian Gulf, much like individuals with associations to Russia are prohibited from exploring certain areas within the Russian province of Ukraine.
13 May 2023, 17:52
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I cannot agree more tovarish! Anyone who possess affiliations with Hizbullah, it is advisable to refrain from venturing into the Arabian Gulf. They should either go to the democratic Islamic Republic of Iran, stay home in the Syrian province of Lebanon or go repopulate or get martyred in Syria proper.
13 May 2023, 18:29
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Lebanon has existed as a distinct entity for millenniae, while Ukraine is considered the birthplace of Russian civilization. From either perspective, one could argue that Ukraine is Russia or Russia is Ukraine, as there is a shared historical and cultural heritage between the two. It is worth mentioning that following WWII, there was an addition of Polish territory to the Russian province/republic of Ukraine, which included cities like Lvov/Lviv. This addition brought about a demographic shift, as the region became home to Catholics and ethnic Poles. Despite this alteration, the underlying bond between Ukraine and Russia remains, rooted in their common heritage and intertwined history.
13 May 2023, 18:38
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Keep your voice down you stupid man, the Swedes will want Russia returned to them!
13 May 2023, 22:56
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lol the Swedes and their degenerate neoliberal and pro LGBTQ values? don't make me laugh por favor. Historically, the Norsemen assimilated and merged with Slavic, Baltic, and Finnic tribes. I have been meaning to share this information with you for quite some time now: Vlad is actually a nickname or sobriquet derived from the name Vladislav. Similarly, for the name Vladimir, the common nicknames used are Vova or Volodya. Poka !
14 May 2023, 19:12
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Sorry for the delay in replying tovarish I was otherwise occupied with call to my friend Bibi in Judea and with Erdoğan the illegal occupier of Constantinople and Byzantium. I though we were talking about history how did we get to the homos? HAHA I like it how you call Swedes Norwegians that'll piss them off and confuse the issue.
15 May 2023, 00:02
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Brat Vlad, you have weird friends! You had me doubt myself for a second - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norsemen Despite my initial doubts, I can confidently assert that I was not mistaken. It is peculiar, though, how our conversation took an unexpected turn and veered towards the topic of hommos. This unforeseen tangent can be attributed to the far-reaching nerfarious influence of neoliberalism, which has significantly altered the essence of Norsemen, stripping them of their traditional masculinity. Therefor, it is improbable for the XXIst century Swedes to assert ownership over any foreign territory.
15 May 2023, 21:19
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You're looking in the wrong place tovarish! Look here "Rus' people and Kievan Rus' and Varangians", but for F's sake tovarish don't tell anyone, the Ukrainian will want to start clamming Russia.
13 May 2023, 22:59
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Excellent interview from Yesterday by presidential cadidate for 2024 Bobby Kennedy Jr https://rumble.com/v2nermq-russell-and-rfk-jr-fauci-cia-secrets-and-running-for-president-128-stay-fre.html
14 May 2023, 19:16
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I like how you think tovarish, yes, we now have Bobby Kennedy Jr as the Democrat Donald trump. We will not the mistakes of 2020, this way we control the White House no matter who wins, smart eh.
15 May 2023, 00:07
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Là t'exagères un peu. Are you bloody serious brat? Donald Trump is an agitator and a polarizing figure due to his controversial political and personal views, whereas Bobby Kennedy Jr. is widely admired for his activism, legal expertise, and commitment to environmental and social justice causes. I can't wait for him to disband the CIA... unless they get to him first like they did with his father and uncle.
15 May 2023, 21:32
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Hahaha yup, them we got to him. Anyway as soon as he's done with his tour of the right wing medias in support og his campaign, I'll convey to him your deep love and admiration.
