Draft Lebanon-Syria agreement could see hundreds of prisoners transferred

Lebanon moves to transfer Syrian prisoners under a draft deal with Damascus, sparking controversy over justice and prison conditions.

MENA

3 min read

The New Arab Staff

29 January, 2026

Lebanese inmates inside Roumieh prison have protested proposed prisoner transfers with Syria [Getty]

Lebanon's government has received a draft judicial agreement with Syria aimed at regulating the transfer of Syrian detainees and convicted prisoners held in Lebanese jails, a long-standing issue that has repeatedly strained relations between the two countries.

The draft was submitted to the cabinet by Lebanon Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri after receiving approval from Syrian authorities and undergoing legal review by Beirut's foreign ministry, Al-Akhbar reported on Thursday.

If approved, the agreement would be signed by the justice ministers of both countries and implemented within three months, with retroactive application to past cases. It would establish a formal framework for transferring Syrian nationals serving sentences in Lebanon back to Syria to complete their punishment.

Under the draft provisions, prisoners would be eligible for transfer if they are nationals of the receiving state and give written consent.

Those convicted of serious crimes, such as murder or rape, would generally be excluded, unless they have already served at least 10 years in Lebanese prisons. The receiving state would assume responsibility for transport and custody costs after the handover.

The proposal marks a significant step forward in judicial cooperation following repeated rounds of talks between Beirut and Damascus over the past year. Recent negotiations, held in Beirut, were described by local media as more constructive than earlier discussions that had stalled over legal and political disagreements.

Several months ago, the two governments reached a narrower arrangement allowing for the transfer of Syrian prisoners not convicted of murder or other serious offences, signalling an early compromise ahead of broader negotiations.

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Sources involved in drafting the current agreement stated that the aim is to ease pressure on Lebanon's overcrowded prison system while creating a durable legal framework for handling similar cases in the future.

Some reports suggest an initial group of around 300 convicted Syrians could be transferred under the draft.

The prospect of a deal has sparked controversy inside Lebanon, with Lebanese inmates at Roumieh prison launching a hunger strike this month over "selective justice" as Syrian detainees face transfer, while Lebanese prisoners remain in prolonged detention.

Human rights concerns, including severe overcrowding and poor medical care in Lebanon's prisons, have long complicated the issue and raised fears that partial solutions could deepen tensions between Syrian and Lebanese inmates.

The issue of Syrian prisoners in Lebanon is rooted in longstanding legal and administrative challenges. A 1951 judicial agreement between the two countries laid out basic principles for prisoner transfers, including consent and mutual legal recognition, but its implementation has been uneven and contested for decades.

If approved by the Lebanese cabinet, the draft treaty would enter into force after a mandatory waiting period following signature. Both governments have indicated that amendments remain possible, depending on legal and political developments in each country.