The Cedar Centre for Legal Studies (CCLS) draws attention to an urgent case of a currently detained Palestinian refugee concerning his possible deportation from Lebanon to Syria. This alarming situation contradicts Article 3 of the United Nations’ Convention against Torture and Lebanon’s commitments under the general international law principle of non-refoulement.

Prior to his arrival to Lebanon, Mustafa Omar Khalil, a Palestinian Syrian, was living in Jaramana refugee camp, a known Palestinian refugee camp in the outskirts of Damascus. Like in other areas of Syria, displacement, unemployment, inflation, and protection risks are among the main concerns shared by Palestine refugees and Syrians alike. Palestinian refugees are at risk of arbitrary detention by Syrian authorities. The regime has a history of targeting perceived opponents, including refugees. In addition, the justice system in Syria is compromised, and due process is often disregarded. Refugees lack effective legal protection. In 2012, Mr. Khalil entered Lebanon. Although not registered with UNHCR, he is recognized by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) as a Palestinian Refugee from Syria (PRS). Mr. Khalil sought refuge due to the Syrian war since 2011.

A year ago, Mr. Khalil was arrested on terrorism-related charges. He faced trial before the Military Court in Beirut. On 20 December 2023, Khalil received a one-year prison sentence with an accompanying deportation order to Syria upon completing his sentence. In a report from 2021 issued by Amnesty International, it was documented that in 14 cases, terrorism-related accusations against Syrian refugees were made on discriminatory grounds including political affiliations. In nine cases, simply expressing political opposition to the Syrian government was considered evidence to justify convictions on “terrorism” charges.

On 26 December 2023, Cedar Centre for Legal Studies sought the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) intervention in this case, but to no avail since Mr. Khalil is not a Syrian. Cedar Centre tried as well to raise his case with the UNRWA but the UN agency did not accept to take the file due to his alleged accusations in Lebanon although the accusations were arbitrarily. 

In January 2024, the Cedar Centre for Legal Studies received a police record from Khalil’s family, which was issued on 13 January 2013 by Jaramana Police in the Rif Dimashq Governorate in Syria. The record indicated that Mr. Khalil’s uncle is missing since October 2012. Mr. Khalil is currently detained in Roumieh prison, and has been informed that he will soon be transferred to the Directorate of General Security in Beirut. Mr. Khalil is still detained there, because he is supposed to pay a fine to the court. His family however is refusing to pay such fine without a guarantee that he will not be deported to Syria. His relatives fear that extradition to Syria would subject Khalil to arbitrary detention and torture. His safety and well-being are at risk due to the volatile situation in Syria.

The Cedar Centre for Legal Studies urges that this matter be addressed and stresses the need to protect human rights and uphold international legal standards. Lebanon must ensure that no one is deported to a country where they are at risk of persecution, torture, or harm.