Prisoners stroll through a yard inside Roumieh prison, northeast of Beirut, on April 7, 2006. The detention centre, one of the biggest in the Middle East, has a capacity of 1,500 but holds more than double that. (Credit: Ramzi Haidar/AFP)
For the first time in Lebanon's carceral history, a member of the U.S. Congress spoke with a Syrian detainee being held at the notorious Roumieh prison, northeast of Beirut.The call took place on Wednesday amid intense negotiations between Lebanon and Syria's new authorities — who led a coalition of Islamist rebel forces to topple dictator Bashar al-Assad — on the thorny issue of Syrians held in Lebanese prisons, especially those accused of belonging to Islamist movements.The American lawmaker in question, Joe Wilson, is the South Carolina representative in the U.S. House of Representatives. A Republican Party member, he was part of a U.S. delegation that visited Syria last August to meet with interim Syrian president Ahmad al-Sharaa."I have spoken with Syrian political prisoners inside Roumieh prison in Lebanon who were...
For the first time in Lebanon's carceral history, a member of the U.S. Congress spoke with a Syrian detainee being held at the notorious Roumieh prison, northeast of Beirut.The call took place on Wednesday amid intense negotiations between Lebanon and Syria's new authorities — who led a coalition of Islamist rebel forces to topple dictator Bashar al-Assad — on the thorny issue of Syrians held in Lebanese prisons, especially those accused of belonging to Islamist movements.The American lawmaker in question, Joe Wilson, is the South Carolina representative in the U.S. House of Representatives. A Republican Party member, he was part of a U.S. delegation that visited Syria last August to meet with interim Syrian president Ahmad al-Sharaa."I have spoken with Syrian political prisoners inside Roumieh prison in Lebanon who...
Rubio condemns Iran's 'outrageous' attacks on Kuwait
Geagea: International positions in support of Lebanon require a strong state
