Roumieh's Lebanese prisoners launch hunger strike over 'selective justice'

Lebanese prisoners at Roumieh Central Prison, Lebanon's largest jail, launched an open-ended hunger strike on Monday, 26 January 2026, in protest against what they described as "selective justice" after reports emerged of an imminent resolution to the file of Syrian detainees between the Lebanese and Syrian authorities.

The prisoners called for a central sit-in at Riad al-Solh Square in downtown Beirut on Friday, 30 January 2026, at 12:30 p.m., under the slogan, "No to selective justice… Yes to transitional justice."

In a video apparently recorded inside the prison, the Lebanese prisoners, joined by notorious Salafist cleric Ahmad al-Assir, delivered a message criticising the fact that "other detainees are left to suffer delays and procrastination," while the case of Syrian detainees is being discussed between officials from the two countries.

They warned that the situation is "on the verge of exploding at any moment," particularly given the high number of deaths resulting from a lack of health care. They noted 44 prisoners died last year and at least six since the start of this year, one of whom died by suicide.

"After years of suffering, we were surprised that the state is pursuing selective solutions that entrench injustice by releasing Syrian prisoners and handing them over to their country, a legitimate right for them since the first day of the fall of the criminal Assad regime, while we were left to suffer, contrary to the prime minister's promise that the solution would include everyone regardless of nationality or sect," the prisoners further added in a statement.

According to information obtained by The New Arab, the file regarding Syrian detainees is nearing its final stages after an agreement was reached between the Lebanese and Syrian authorities following lengthy negotiations and reciprocal official visits.

The agreement, in its first phase, includes the handover of convicted Syrian prisoners to the authorities in their country, a point not subject to dispute, while discussions continue regarding other detainees, particularly those accused of murder and rape, whose cases require approval by the Lebanese parliament.

Security clarification

At least two deaths were recorded last Saturday, 24 January 2026, one at Roumieh prison and the other at Qobbeh prison in Tripoli.

This occurred days after a juvenile detainee committed suicide inside the juvenile building at Roumieh because of the "suspension of his trial sessions due to the strike by judicial assistants", according to the Committee of Prisoners' Families.

The Internal Security Forces Directorate General clarified the circumstances of the two deaths in a statement issued on Sunday, saying, "On 24 January, signs of a heart attack were observed on a prisoner (H.T.A., born 1956, Lebanese) at Tripoli prison, noting that he suffered from chronic illnesses. He was transferred to the hospital within 25 minutes but died during the transfer."

The directorate added that the prisoner did not regularly adhere to taking his medication despite its availability.

The second case involved a Syrian prisoner (M.N., born 1940), who had been held at Roumieh since 2002 and was serving a life sentence. The directorate said he was transferred to the hospital on 24 January due to shortness of breath, then to intensive care at another hospital, but died later that day at 4:19 p.m. after his heart stopped, following unsuccessful resuscitation attempts that began when his condition deteriorated at 3:45 p.m. 

The directorate stressed that "the lives and health of prisoners are a trust and a responsibility," underscoring that necessary medical measures are taken in coordination with prison medical services and that emergency cases are transferred to hospitals.

Lebanon's prisons suffer from numerous crises, most notably overcrowding, delayed trials and weak health care, which regularly lead to riots and hunger strikes.