Roumieh Prison inmates strike over stalled amnesty law

More than 400 inmates at Roumieh Prison in Lebanon are conducting a hunger and medication strike to protest the stalled implementation of a general amnesty law. The strike, which has lasted over 14 days, has led to a sharp deterioration in prisoner health, with 39 individuals reported in critical condition. Some inmates have required emergency hospital transfers to Beirut amid shortages of medical transport.

The amnesty law, the first of its kind since the Lebanese civil war, was passed by parliament to address prison overcrowding and assist thousands of detainees, many of whom are Islamists. However, implementation was suspended on September 10 following an appeal by lawmakers to the Constitutional Council. The Council is expected to rule on the legality of the legislation next month.

Lebanon's prison system faces severe overcrowding, with reports indicating populations reaching 300 percent of capacity. The current unrest highlights the humanitarian crisis within the facility as detainees await a judicial decision on the law that could potentially release many held without trial.