Introduction

This case concerns the enforced disappearance and abduction of a 30‑year‑old Lebanese citizen, referred to in this case as UNVT‑0020. He is a Lebanese-Brazilian national and works as an engineer.

According to available information, UNVT‑0020 arrived in Lebanon, specifically in the Bekaa region, to visit his family. Just two days after his arrival, agents from the General Directorate of General Security raided his home and arrested him on 16 September 2025. No arrest warrant was presented, and no official justification was communicated at the time. From 16 September 2025 until at least 2 October 2025, his whereabouts were not disclosed to his family or legal counsel, amounting to an enforced disappearance under international law.

Despite repeated inquiries by lawyers, family members, and friends to the relevant authorities, none have been able to obtain clear information about the circumstances of his detention or location, raising serious concerns about his fate. When repeatedly asked about UNVT‑0020, General Security initially denied holding him, later claiming he was placed on a “ban list.” A notary was refused permission to meet him, despite having judicial authorization.

Family members went to the General Security centre, where they were again told he was not present. These events led to severe psychological breakdowns inside the center, including the wife threatening suicide and the father collapsing on the floor. According to one officer, the Government Commissioner had issued a decision prohibiting any legal power of attorney or even allowing UNVT‑0020 to contact his family or lawyer, until his lawyer was permitted to attend an interrogation session before the Military Investigating Judge on 30 October 2025.

Legal Services Provided by the Cedar Center for Legal Studies

From the moment contact was lost with UNVT‑0020, Cedar Center lawyers initiated a series of legal actions aimed at uncovering his fate, challenging the legality of his detention, and securing basic legal and humanitarian guarantees, as follows:

1. 02 October 2025: CCLS lawyers filed a complaint before the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation in Beirut for the crime of enforced disappearance. Given serious concerns of torture and ill‑treatment, they requested an immediate investigation, prosecution under Article 37 of Law No. 105/2018 (criminalizing enforced disappearance), Article 367 of the Penal Code, and violations of Articles 47 and 32 of the Code of Criminal Procedure regarding detention limits.
2. 08 October 2025: CCLS lawyers organized a legal power of attorney before a notary, authorizing them to represent UNVT‑0020 in all proceedings, whether public or private, before all courts of every type and level, including civil, administrative, commercial, military, religious, spiritual, and real estate courts, and other competent judicial bodies.
3. 30 October 2025: CCLS lawyers attended a session before the Military Investigating Judge to follow up on procedures related to UNVT‑0020’s detention.
4. 31 October 2025: After more than 37 days of detention by General Security Information, with his lawyer barred from attending preliminary interrogations or visiting him, UNVT‑0020 appeared before the First Military Investigating Judge showing signs of beatings and harsh treatment to extract forced confessions. Lawyers requested urgent examination by a forensic doctor and psychiatrist, with reports prepared under the Istanbul Protocol, at his own expense.
5. 03 November 2025: CCLS lawyers submitted a procedural defense list before the First Military Investigating Judge, citing fundamental violations of criminal law and detention procedures. The appeal was filed within the legal deadline and met formal requirements, warranting acceptance. The defenses included nullity of investigation procedures, inadmissibility of the case due to violation of legal guarantees, and invalidation of records for breaching Article 47.
6. 19 November 2025: CCLS lawyers requested transfer of the detainee from General Security Information to Internal Security Forces prisons, citing torture and enforced disappearance, and demanded lawful monitored detention. He had been subjected to severe physical and psychological pressure, threatened with continued shackling if he retracted his statements before the judge, kept handcuffed for over 20 days, and disappeared for more than 35 days without lawyer access. After testifying about torture before the judge, threats against him were carried out.
7. 11 December 2025: Cedar Center communicated with the National Human Rights Commission, which includes Lebanon’s National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) against torture, formally requesting intervention and monitoring in light of disturbing torture allegations.
8. 12 December 2025: Cedar Center for Legal Studies submitted an urgent communication to the UN Special Rapporteur of Torture regarding torture, enforced disappearance, and violations suffered during detention at General Security in Beirut. The communication requested guarantees of his safety, protection from torture and ill‑treatment, transfer to a lawful monitored prison, and a neutral, comprehensive investigation. It reminded Lebanon of its international and domestic obligations prohibiting torture and rejecting confessions obtained under coercion.
9. 19 January 2026, the First Military Investigating Judge in Beirut issued an indictment against UNVT‑0020 under Articles 335, 275, 278, 549, and 549/201 of the Lebanese Penal Code, as well as Articles 72 and 76 of the Weapons and Ammunition Law. Six other individuals were indicted on most of the same charges.

According to the indictment decision, UNVT‑0020 is accused of forming, on Lebanese territory and in association with others, a terrorist cell allegedly operating in favour of Israel and its affiliated Mossad intelligence service, in exchange for financial compensation.

A hearing initially scheduled for 16 March 2026 was adjourned to 22 April 2026.

10. 8 April 2026, UNVT‑0020 was transferred from the General Security detention facility in Beirut to Roumieh Prison, upon the request of his legal counsel, due to ongoing concerns regarding his physical and psychological safety in light of the previous conditions of detention and allegations of torture and ill-treatment.
11. 17 April 2026, Cedar Centre for Legal Studies submitted the case to the Working Group of Arbitrary Detention rreuesting the Group to issue an opinion on the arbitrary nature of UNVT‑0020 ‘s detention, in light of serious violations of his fundamental rights, including due process guarantees, the prohibition of torture, and the right to a fair trial.

Legal Violations

1. Enforced disappearance: Arrested on 16 September 2025 and disappeared for over 35 days without informing family or lawyer.
2. Violation of procedural guarantees: Interrogated without lawyer present, violating Article 47 of the Code of Criminal Procedure; detention exceeded legal limit (more than four days), violating Article 32.

3. Torture and coerced confession: Beaten on the soles of his feet, deprived of food and water, forced to sign blank papers during the first three days, and compelled to give false confessions under coercion. These accusations appear to rely primarily on statements obtained during the initial phase of detention, in circumstances raising serious concerns as to their voluntariness, particularly in light of the allegations of torture and the absence of any prompt and effective investigation.

1. Ongoing ill‑treatment and threats: Detained with hands shackled for 20 consecutive days, subjected to continuous physical and psychological coercion to extract confessions, threatened with retaliation if he retracted statements or spoke of torture before the court.
2. Denial of medical examination: Refusal to appoint forensic and psychiatric doctors under the Istanbul Protocol.
3. Psychological pressure on family: Denial of his presence and refusal of contact, leading to the wife’s suicide threat and father’s protest.
4. Violations of International Rights

• Breach of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), particularly the right to personal liberty and legal guarantees.
• Breach of the Convention Against Torture (CAT), including prohibition of torture, cruel treatment, and coerced confessions.

Recommendations

• Immediate communication with Lebanese authorities to ensure the detainee’s safety and protection from further torture or abuse.
• Immediate transfer to a lawful detention center under the Ministry of Interior’s supervision.
• Appointment of independent medical and psychological examinations under the Istanbul Protocol.
• Conduct of impartial and objective investigation into all torture allegations and conduct of General Security officers.
• Reminder to Lebanon of its obligations under the CAT, ICCPR, and Lebanese Law No. 65/2017, including the absolute prohibition of torture and inadmissibility of confessions obtained under coercion.