Bahrain Mirror: Following the Lebanese Interior Minister directives to deport Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society members outside Lebanon, the Lebanese National Human Rights Institution called on the government to respect the principle of non-refoulement.

The institution commented on the request of Minister of Interior and Municipalities Minister, Bassam Mawlawi, from the General Security Directorate to"take all measures to deport non-Lebanese Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society members outside Lebanon," saying that "The Lebanese Government's possible awareness of the forcible expelling of the society's members to the Kingdom of Bahrain, or its tacit acceptance of it, constitutes a serious violation of the principle of non-refoulement."

The institution said in a press conference "The Convention against Torture, which Lebanon is a part of, prohibits the extradition of individuals to states where there are substantial grounds for believing that he would be in danger of being subjected to torture. We call on the Lebanese government to fully comply with the convention and its optional protocol."

After receiving a call from his Bahraini counterpart on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, the Lebanese Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi sent a letter to the General Security Directorate requesting that all measures be taken to deport members of Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society outside Lebanon. 

Arabic Version