The first group of Syrian detainees previously held in Lebanon’s Roumieh Central Prison and other facilities arrived at the Jdeidat Yabous border crossing in the Damascus countryside on Tuesday. The repatriation was carried out under the direct supervision of the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, in close coordination with the Ministries of Justice and Interior.
This arrival marks the official implementation of the judicial agreement signed between Syria and Lebanon on February 6, which facilitates the transfer of Syrian convicts to their home country to serve the remainder of their sentences.
Iyad Hazza, Charge d’Affaires of the Syrian Embassy in Lebanon, informed told SANA that today’s operation involved the handover of 132 detainees. He noted that subsequent groups will be received as soon as the necessary legal and administrative procedures are finalized. Hazza extended his gratitude to the Lebanese government—specifically the Presidency, the Prime Minister’s office, the Ministry of Justice, and security agencies—for the “fruitful cooperation” that made this agreement possible.
“This positive cooperation reflects the depth of the relations between our two countries,” Hazza stated, adding that the Syrian state remains committed to standing by its citizens worldwide and overcoming obstacles to ensure their safe and dignified living conditions.
Judge Namour Ahmad al-Nemer, representing the Syrian Ministry of Justice, reiterated that this specific agreement applies exclusively to those with final judicial rulings. He emphasized that these individuals will be treated according to Syrian laws governing sentence execution, ensuring parity with those sentenced by domestic courts. The agreement is the result of months of diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the file of Syrian detainees in Lebanon and upholding the principles of transitional justice.
SANA
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