Amnesty pleads for civilian investigation into death by alleged torture of Syrian detainee

BEIRUT — Amnesty International on Tuesday condemned the death last week by alleged torture of Bashar Abdel Saud, a Syrian detainee who had been held at a regional office of the State Security in Bint Jbeil, South Lebanon, adding that the case must be "urgently" referred to a civilian, rather than military, court.

"Military courts should restrict their jurisdiction to that of military offenses by military personnel ... to ensure transparency and impartiality," Amnesty International said in their statement.

On Monday, the State Security directorate said it would enforce "severe" punishments against those found guilty in the incident. Lebanese judicial officials have announced an investigation by the military prosecution. 

"It is unacceptable for torture to be continuing to occur in Lebanese detention centers and with such brutality – the authorities must put a stop to it immediately,” Heba Morayef, Amnesty's regional MENA director, was quoted as saying in the Tuesday statement.

“While it is a positive measure that a group of security personnel have been remanded in custody for questioning, under human rights law standards, military courts should restrict their jurisdiction to that of military offenses by military personnel," Morayef said. "To ensure transparency and impartiality, Abdel Saud’s case must urgently be referred to a civilian court. His family deserves justice and reparations for their tragic loss." The incident should be a "wake-up call to the Lebanese authorities to address torture in their detention facilities," the statement added.

The death of 30-year-old Abdel Saud, due to a reported heart attack caused by allegedly violent treatment at the hands of security agents, was followed a few hours later by social media users spreading images of his remains. The pictures sparked public shock and anger. The Lebanese Center for Human Rights and several Lebanese officials called on Saturday for the country's security apparatus to be held accountable for the death.