Georges Ibrahim Abdallah: court orders release of oldest political detainee
A new page could be turned in the Georges Ibrahim Abdallah affair. The sentence enforcement court has just granted conditional release on November 15 to this Lebanese activist who has been detained for four decades. This historic decision comes after ten unsuccessful attempts.
Incarcerated in Lannemezan in the Hautes-Pyrénées, the former teacher who became a figure in the Palestinian cause has been serving a life sentence since 1986. He was found guilty of complicity in the assassination of two diplomats, one American, the other Israeli.
The court stipulates that his release, scheduled for December 6, is conditional on his definitive departure from French territory. However, the national anti-terrorism prosecution immediately appealed this decision, an appeal with suspensive effect. Abdallah, eligible for release since 1999, is considered the world’s oldest detainee linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
On social networks, his supporters show their enthusiasm. The hashtag #LiberezGeorgesAbdallah quickly went viral, accompanied by messages of support and celebration. The support committees, active for years, welcome a “historic victory for justice” and call to remain mobilized until his effective release, aware that the appeal from the prosecution could further delay the process.
