Euro-Mediterranean Observatory for Human Rights condemned the issuance of the General Directorate of Lebanese Security, a circular to the Lebanese embassy in the UAE, stating that Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and those stuck in the UAE should not be allowed to return to Lebanese territory, without clarifying any reasons for this decision.
The Geneva-based International Human Rights Observatory said in a press statement today, “Al-Watan World” reached a copy of it: The circular bearing the number (5932 / m), which was issued on 1/5/2020, came to stipulate that the Lebanese stranded abroad are Only those who have the right to return to Lebanese territory, explaining that the Lebanese family is every husband, wife and children, who are not Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, affirming that the refugee is everyone who holds a Palestinian passport or a Palestinian travel document.
The circular stated that all Palestinians, who were preparing to return to Lebanon on evacuation flights, were informed of removing their names from travel lists, preventing them from boarding aircraft and returning until further notice.
Euro-Mediterranean Legal Counsel Tariq Hajjar said: The circular includes fatal racial discrimination against Palestinian refugees from Lebanese travel documents holders, so it is original for the holder of the document to receive the treatment that the Lebanese citizen receives in cases of deportation and deportation, indicating that the Palestinian refugee who holds a Lebanese travel document does not carry Others enable him to move, and preventing him from travelling constitutes an unjustified violation of his right to freedom of travel and movement.
In this context, one of the Palestinians residing in Lebanon – on his Facebook page – who is married to a Lebanese woman, and comes from a Lebanese mother, stated that the Lebanese General Security officers refused to allow him to leave Dubai airport because he was Palestinian, although the authorities in Dubai She allowed him to leave and stamped his exit visa, confirming that the Lebanese security dealt with him inappropriately and prevented him from boarding the plane permanently.
For its part, the General Directorate of Lebanese Public Security issued a statement in which it stated that this measure comes within the framework of implementing the decision issued by the Lebanese Council of Ministers and that the Lebanese will return exclusively at this stage, provided that consideration is given to other nationalities other than Lebanese.
She emphasized the opening of an investigation with the responsible officer about his inappropriate behaviour and method of dealing with the Palestinian refugee who had been prevented from returning to Lebanon.
The Euro-Mediterranean pointed out that a number of Palestinians who applied to return to Lebanon and their requests were approved, faced racist practices and degrading treatment by Lebanese security personnel, and were prevented from boarding and returning to Lebanon.
He stressed that the circular clearly violates the provisions and principles of international human rights law, which guaranteed the right of movement for all, as Article (13) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stipulates: “1. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and to choose his residence within the borders of the state. 2 Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country. ”
Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states: “2. Everyone has the freedom to leave any country, including his own. 4. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of the right to enter his country.”
The Euro-Mediterranean Observatory called on the Lebanese government, especially in light of the spread of the Corona pandemic, to show legal and moral responsibility, and respect international conventions and agreements.
