Free Patriotic Movement responds to Ashraf Rifi over amnesty debate

The Free Patriotic Movement has issued a formal response to statements made by MP Ashraf Rifi regarding the legal status of Islamic detainees in Lebanon. The party clarified that its position is not against granting justice to wrongfully detained individuals, but rather against using their cases as a pretext for a broad amnesty that could cover approximately 5,800 people and various crimes, whereas the number of convicted Islamic individuals involved is around 250.

The movement emphasized its support for addressing the situation of those who have been detained for long periods without trial, noting that they proposed legislation for this purpose as far back as 2005. In response to Rifi’s past role as Minister of Justice, the party questioned his lack of political or judicial initiative to resolve the issue when families were protesting at his home in 2016.

Concluding its statement, the Free Patriotic Movement asserted that it stands for the rights of the oppressed to a fair trial while simultaneously supporting justice for the army, its martyrs, and the victims.