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Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Georges Ibrahim released after 40 years in French jail
LANNEMEZAN, (France): One of France's longest-held inmates, the pro-Palestinian Lebanese militant Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, 74, was released from prison and deported on Friday, after more than 40 years behind bars for the killings of two diplomats. At around 3:40 am (01:40 GMT), a convoy of six vehicles left the Lannemezan penitentiary with lights flashing, AFP journalists saw. Hours later, he was placed on a plane bound for Lebanon. As he disembarked in Beirut, he was welcomed by family members at the airport's VIP lounge. Dozens of supporters, some waving Palestinian or Lebanese Communist Party flags gathered near the arrivals hall to give him a hero's reception, an AFP correspondent said. Abdallah's family had said previously they would take him to their hometown of Kobayat, in northern Lebanon, where a reception is planned. Abdallah was detained in 1984 and sentenced to life in prison in 1987 for his involvement in the murders of US military attache Charles Robert Ray and Israeli diplomat Yacov Barsimantov in Paris. 'Past symbol' The Paris Court of Appeal had ordered his release 'effective July 25' on the condition that he leave French territory and never return. While he had been eligible for release since 1999, his previous requests were denied with the United States — a civil party to the case — consistently opposing him leaving prison. Inmates serving life sentences in France are typically freed after fewer than 30 years. Abdallah's lawyer, Jean-Louis Chalanset, visited for a final time on Thursday. 'He seemed very happy about his upcoming release, even though he knows he is returning to the Middle East in an extremely tough context for Lebanese and Palestinian populations,' Chalanset told AFP. AFP visited Abdallah last week after the court's release decision, accompanying a lawmaker to the detention centre. The founder of the Lebanese Revolutionary Armed Factions (FARL) — a long-disbanded Marxist anti-Israel group — said for more than four decades he had continued to be a 'militant with a struggle'. After his arrest in 1984, French police discovered submachine guns and transceiver stations in one of his Paris apartments. The appeals court in February noted that the FARL 'had not committed a violent action since 1984' and that Abdallah 'today represented a past symbol of the Palestinian struggle'. The appeals judges also found the length of his detention 'disproportionate' to the crimes and given his age.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Pro-Palestinian Lebanese militant released after 40 years in French jail
One of France's longest-held inmates, the pro-Palestinian Lebanese militant Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, 74, was released from prison and deported on Friday, after more than 40 years behind bars for the killings of two diplomats. At around 3:40 am (01:40 GMT), a convoy of six vehicles left the Lannemezan penitentiary with lights flashing, AFP journalists saw. Hours later, he was placed on a plane bound for Lebanon. As he disembarked in Beirut, he was welcomed by family members at the airport's VIP lounge. Dozens of supporters, some waving Palestinian or Lebanese Communist Party flags gathered near the arrivals hall to give him a hero's reception, an AFP correspondent said. Mr. Abdallah's family had said previously they would take him to their hometown of Kobayat, in northern Lebanon, where a reception is planned. Abdallah was detained in 1984 and sentenced to life in prison in 1987 for his involvement in the murders of U.S. military attache Charles Robert Ray and Israeli diplomat Yacov Barsimantov in Paris. 'Past symbol' The Paris Court of Appeal had ordered his release "effective July 25" on the condition that he leave French territory and never return. While he had been eligible for release since 1999, his previous requests were denied with the United States -- a civil party to the case -- consistently opposing him leaving prison. Inmates serving life sentences in France are typically freed after fewer than 30 years. Mr. Abdallah's lawyer, Jean-Louis Chalanset, visited for a final time on Thursday. "He seemed very happy about his upcoming release, even though he knows he is returning to the Middle East in an extremely tough context for Lebanese and Palestinian populations," Chalanset told AFP. AFP visited Mr. Abdallah last week after the court's release decision, accompanying a lawmaker to the detention centre. The founder of the Lebanese Revolutionary Armed Factions (FARL) -- a long-disbanded Marxist anti-Israel group -- said for more than four decades he had continued to be a "militant with a struggle". After his arrest in 1984, French police discovered submachine guns and transceiver stations in one of his Paris apartments. The appeals court in February noted that the FARL "had not committed a violent action since 1984" and that Abdallah "today represented a past symbol of the Palestinian struggle". The appeals judges also found the length of his detention "disproportionate" to the crimes and given his age.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lebanese militant Georges Abdallah freed after 40 years in French prison
Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, a Lebanese militant and figurehead of Palestinian resistance, has been freed after more than four decades in a French prison. One of France's longest-serving prisoners, Georges Ibrahim Abdallah – a pro-Palestinian Lebanese militant – was released and deported on Friday, after spending more than 40 years behind bars for the killing of two diplomats. Shortly before dawn, at around 3:40am local time, a convoy of six vehicles with flashing lights was seen leaving the Lannemezan prison, according to journalists on the ground. Just a few hours later, the 74-year-old reportedly boarded a flight to Lebanon. Abdallah was originally detained in 1984 and sentenced to life in 1987 for his role in the murders of United States military attaché Charles Robert Ray and Israeli diplomat Yacov Barsimantov in Paris. Georges Abdallah: The Lebanese activist France has held for over 40 years His release was finally authorised by the Paris Court of Appeal, effective from 25 July, on the condition that he leave French territory permanently. Although he had technically been eligible for release since 1999, previous applications were consistently denied, with the US – a civil party in the case – strongly opposing his release. In France, life sentences typically result in release after less than 30 years. Abdallah's lawyer, Jean-Louis Chalanset, visited him on Thursday. 'He seemed in very good spirits about finally being released, though he's fully aware he's returning to a region facing extremely difficult times for both the Lebanese and Palestinian people,' Chalanset told French news agency AFP. French court orders release of Lebanese militant after four decades in prison 'Committed militant' The founder of the now-defunct Lebanese Revolutionary Armed Factions (FARL) – a Marxist group once active in anti-Israel operations – Abdallah described himself as a "committed militant". Following his arrest in 1984, French police uncovered submachine guns and radio equipment in one of his Paris apartments. However, the appeals court noted in February that FARL had not engaged in any violent acts since 1984, and that Abdallah had become more of a symbolic figure for the Palestinian cause. The judges also deemed his lengthy imprisonment 'disproportionate' in light of his age and the nature of his crimes. Abdallah's family plans to welcome him at Beirut airport before travelling to their hometown of Kobayat in northern Lebanon, where a reception has been organised.
Iraqi News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Lebanese militant released after 40 years in French jail
Lannemezan – One of France's longest-held inmates, the pro-Palestinian Lebanese militant Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, was released from prison and is due to be deported on Friday, after more than 40 years behind bars for the killings of two diplomats. At around 3:40 am (01:30 GMT), a convoy of six vehicles left the Lannemezan penitentiary with lights flashing, AFP journalists saw. A source close to the case confirmed to AFP that 74-year-old Abdallah had left the prison. Abdallah was detained in 1984 and sentenced to life in prison in 1987 for his involvement in the murders of US military attache Charles Robert Ray and Israeli diplomat Yacov Barsimantov in Paris. The Paris Court of Appeal had ordered his release 'effective July 25' on the condition that he leave French territory and never return. While he had been eligible for release since 1999, his previous requests were denied with the United States — a civil party to the case — consistently opposing him leaving prison. Inmates serving life sentences in France are typically freed after fewer than 30 years. Once out of prison, Abdallah is set to be transported to the Tarbes airport where a police plane will take him to Roissy for a flight to Beirut, according to a source close to the case. Abdallah's lawyer, Jean-Louis Chalanset, visited for a final time on Thursday. 'He seemed very happy about his upcoming release, even though he knows he is returning to the Middle East in an extremely tough context for Lebanese and Palestinian populations,' Chalanset told AFP. AFP visited Abdallah last week after the court's release decision, accompanying a lawmaker to the detention centre. The founder of the Lebanese Revolutionary Armed Factions (FARL) — a long-disbanded Marxist anti-Israel group — said for more than four decades he had continued to be a 'militant with a struggle'. – 'Past symbol' – After his arrest in 1984, French police discovered submachine guns and transceiver stations in one of his Paris apartments. The appeals court in February noted that the FARL 'had not committed a violent action since 1984' and that Abdallah 'today represented a past symbol of the Palestinian struggle'. The appeals judges also found the length of his detention 'disproportionate' to the crimes and given his age. Abdallah's family said they plan to meet him at Beirut airport's 'honour lounge' before heading to their hometown of Kobayat in northern Lebanon where a reception is planned.
Al-Ahram Weekly
5 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Pro-Palestinian Lebanese militant released after 40 years in French jail - Region
One of France's longest-held prisoners, the pro-Palestinian Lebanese militant Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, was released from jail and deported on Friday, after more than 40 years behind bars for the killings of two diplomats. At around 3:40 am (01:30 GMT), a convoy of six vehicles left the Lannemezan penitentiary with lights flashing, AFP journalists saw. A source close to the case confirmed to AFP that 74-year-old Abdallah had left the prison. Hours later, he was placed on a plane bound for Lebanon, an airport source told AFP. Abdallah was detained in 1984 and sentenced to life in prison in 1987 for his involvement in the murders of US military attache Charles Robert Ray and Israeli diplomat Yacov Barsimantov in Paris. The Paris Court of Appeal had ordered his release "effective July 25" on the condition that he leave French territory and never return. While he had been eligible for release since 1999, his previous requests were denied with the United States -- a civil party to the case -- consistently opposing him leaving prison. Prisoners serving life sentences in France are typically freed after fewer than 30 years. Abdallah's lawyer, Jean-Louis Chalanset, visited for a final time on Thursday. "He seemed very happy about his upcoming release, even though he knows he is returning to the Middle East in an extremely tough context for Lebanese and Palestinian populations," Chalanset told AFP. AFP visited Abdallah last week after the court's release decision, accompanying a lawmaker to the detention centre. The founder of the Lebanese Revolutionary Armed Factions (FARL) -- a long-disbanded Marxist anti-Israel group -- said for more than four decades he had continued to be a "militant with a struggle". 'Past symbol' After his arrest in 1984, French police discovered submachine guns and transceiver stations in one of his Paris apartments. The appeals court in February noted that the FARL "had not committed a violent action since 1984" and that Abdallah "today represented a past symbol of the Palestinian struggle". The appeals judges also found the length of his detention "disproportionate" to the crimes and given his age. Abdallah's family said they plan to meet him at Beirut airport's "honour lounge" before heading to their hometown of Kobayat in northern Lebanon where a reception is planned. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
