Credit: Photo montage taken in Roumieh prison and provided by the Committee of Prisoners' Families and the Lebanese Observatory for Prisoners' Rights
In 12 years of detention, he had never witnessed anything like it: prisoners celebrating.On Sept. 4, 2026, at Roumieh prison, S., an inmate in Building B, known as the "Islamists’ building," wakes to the sound of takbirs — cries of "Allahu Akbar" so loud they seem to shake the walls. President Joseph Aoun had just enacted the highly controversial general amnesty law, which, for many prisoners, marked the end of a long ordeal behind bars.S. joins the circle that has formed in one of the corridors. Sleeveless shirts whirl through the air like towels. Even F., a usually unfriendly cellmate, manages a few swaying dance moves to Arabic music. The men loudly thank Aoun as if he were there to hear them. Having closely followed the news in recent weeks, everyone understands the magnitude of what is happening. Goodbye to...
In 12 years of detention, he had never witnessed anything like it: prisoners celebrating.On Sept. 4, 2026, at Roumieh prison, S., an inmate in Building B, known as the "Islamists’ building," wakes to the sound of takbirs — cries of "Allahu Akbar" so loud they seem to shake the walls. President Joseph Aoun had just enacted the highly controversial general amnesty law, which, for many prisoners, marked the end of a long ordeal behind bars.S. joins the circle that has formed in one of the corridors. Sleeveless shirts whirl through the air like towels. Even F., a usually unfriendly cellmate, manages a few swaying dance moves to Arabic music. The men loudly thank Aoun as if he were there to hear them. Having closely followed the news in recent weeks, everyone understands the magnitude of what is happening. Goodbye to...