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ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

Relatives of Lebanese and Syrian migrants detained in Cyprus demand their release

“We cannot forget this matter. People were condemned for entering the island illegally, but they were just fleeing misery,” says the head of Bebnine (Akkar).

Relatives of Lebanese and Syrian migrants detained in Cyprus demand their release

Families of Lebanese migrants detained in Cyprus protesting in Akkar, Northern Lebanon, on July 7, 2024. (Credit: Michel Hallak/ L'Orient Today)

BEIRUT — The families of Lebanese and Syrian migrants detained in Cyprus in recent years have renewed their calls for the release of their relatives, following their illegal entry onto the island. These pleas have surfaced amid significant political shifts in Lebanon and Syria, highlighted by the election of President Joseph Aoun in Lebanon on Jan. 9 and the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on Dec. 8, 2024.

Throughout January, families of Syrian migrants held on the Mediterranean island have frequently used social media, through dedicated accounts, to issue urgent demands for the detainees' release. The migrants had fled Syria’s war and illegally sought refuge in Cyprus. In the wake of what they describe as the "fall of the criminal, oppressive, and racist regime" of former President Bashar al-Assad, these families are calling for "amnesty" for individuals sentenced to terms ranging from two to eight years "simply coming by sea to seek refuge in Cyprus."

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At the request of the families of Lebanese detainees in Cyprus, Zaher Kassar, head of Bebnine (Akkar, North Lebanon) and leader of the Akkar mukhtars’ assembly, has made a similar appeal on behalf of Lebanese nationals. Speaking to L'Orient-Le Jour, Kassar estimated that 15 Lebanese nationals from Akkar or Tripoli may still be detained in Cyprus, while "three or four" had returned to Akkar at the end of summer after serving sentences of one to two years. He added that there has been no coordination between the appeals of Syrian and Lebanese families.

A case in Lebanon suspended by war

The families of Lebanese detainees in Cyprus have staged repeated protests to pressure authorities. Last May, relatives gathered outside the embassy in Louaizeh, near Baabda, demanding progress in their loved ones’ cases. On July 7, dozens of family members held a sit-in in Bebnine, displaying photos of the detainees. "Yesterday [Thursday, Jan. 30], I was told that no one is working on the case anymore and that it is forgotten. We cannot forget this matter. Lebanese were condemned for entering the island illegally, but they were just fleeing misery," explained Kassar, head of Bebnine.

A fishing village historically dependent on its maritime industry, Bebnine has been severely impacted by Lebanon's ongoing economic crisis since 2019. The surge in fuel prices has particularly deepened the community's hardship, sharply reducing the already modest earnings of fishermen using small boats. "It is urgent that this case is taken up again by the political authorities," Kassar stressed.

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Why Nasrallah is dragging Cyprus into the war

The elected official explained that "the situation was progressing in a good direction and in cooperation between Cyprus and Lebanon before it deteriorated with the war," referencing the 13-month conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. He noted that negotiations were abruptly halted following a speech by former Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, assassinated by Israel, who on June 20, 2024, threatened Cyprus, labeling the EU island nation as "a party to the war" against Hezbollah if it allowed Israeli forces to use its "airports and bases to attack Lebanon."

"Now that the situation allows it, we renew our demand for the release of the detainees," Kassar concluded.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced aid of 1 billion euros for Lebanon during a visit on May 2 to "revive the economy" and launch several projects, including border protection. Her visit coincided with that of Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, whose country had repeatedly warned against the influx of migrants making the perilous Mediterranean crossing from Lebanon.

This article was originally published in French in L'Orient Le-Jour.

BEIRUT — The families of Lebanese and Syrian migrants detained in Cyprus in recent years have renewed their calls for the release of their relatives, following their illegal entry onto the island. These pleas have surfaced amid significant political shifts in Lebanon and Syria, highlighted by the election of President Joseph Aoun in Lebanon on Jan. 9 and the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime...