Background

UNVT_0011 is a 16-year-old Lebanese boy detained in connection with a theft case in Tripoli, northern Lebanon. He reported being subjected to torture during his detention. Lawyers from the Cedar Centre for Legal Studies took on his case and defended him in court.

Timeline of Legal Support in the Case of UNVT_0011

• 21 June 2025: The Lebanese minor UNVT_0011 was detained in connection with a theft case.
• 8 July 2025: The legal team submitted a request for release before the investigating judge.
• 9 July 2025: An appeal was filed against the arrest warrant before the Indictment Chamber.

Before the Investigating Judge: The legal team requested the appointment of a forensic doctor to examine the detainee after receiving information about torture. The judge approved the request, but the forensic doctor refused to conduct the examination because the detainee was held in a security branch that does not allow forensic doctors to examine detainees inside its premises.

Later: The detainee was transferred to the Tripoli Serail, where a forensic doctor was allowed to examine him and documented signs of beating and torture.

• 10 July 2025: The Indictment Chamber rejected the appeal request.
• 5 August 2025: The legal team filed a new appeal against the investigating judge’s decision to reject the release request.
• 21 August 2025: After persistent efforts and follow-up by the Cedar centre, the detainee was released.

During the minor’s detention, his father received psychological and social support from the Cedar centre for the Rehabilitation of Torture Victims to help him cope with the trauma caused by his son’s detention and torture.

Human Rights Violations

Key violations in the case of detainee UNVT_0011:

1. Torture During Detention: The detainee was subjected to torture during his detention, in clear violation of Law 65/2017 criminalizing torture and international conventions, especially the Convention Against Torture, which absolutely prohibits torture under any circumstances.
2. Obstruction of Documentation and Accountability: The forensic doctor was prevented from examining the detainee during detention due to restrictions imposed by the security branch, reflecting a systematic policy aimed at concealing evidence and preventing legal accountability.
3. Violation of Child Rights: The detainee was held and tortured despite being a minor aged 16, in grave violation of the Lebanese Juvenile Protection Law and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which guarantees special protection for children in the context of criminal justice.
4. Violation of Physical and Human Dignity: The torture and poor detention conditions led to deterioration in the detainee’s physical and psychological health, constituting a blatant violation of his right to physical and mental integrity and his right to human dignity as enshrined in national law and international standards.

Recommendations

1. Launch an independent judicial investigation into the torture practices the detainee was subjected to and hold all responsible parties accountable under the law.
2. Ensure unrestricted access for forensic doctors to all detention facilities and guarantee their independence in documenting physical and psychological violations.
3. Provide ongoing psychological and social support to the detainee after his release to aid in his recovery and mental stability.
4. Ensure protection from retaliation or prosecution resulting from documenting violations or filing complaints through effective preventive measures.
5. Review the mechanisms for detaining minors and ensure Lebanese authorities comply with national laws and international standards, especially the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to prevent minors from being subjected to any form of torture or ill-treatment.