Latest news with #GeorgesIbrahimAbdallah
Nahar Net
27-07-2025
- Politics
- Nahar Net
US criticizes French release of Georges Abdallah
by Naharnet Newsdesk 27 July 2025, 12:11 The United States bas criticized the release from a French prison of pro-Palestinian Lebanese militant Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, who spent more than 40 years behind bars for the alleged killings of two diplomats, one of them American. Abdallah was detained in 1984 and sentenced to life in prison in 1987 for his alleged involvement in the murders of U.S. military attache Charles Robert Ray and Israeli diplomat Yacov Barsimantov in Paris. Earlier this month, a French appeals court ordered Abdallah's release on the condition that he leave French territory and never return. He left a prison in southwest France on Friday and later arrived in his hometown in Lebanon. "The United States opposes the French government's release and expulsion to Lebanon of convicted terrorist Georges Ibrahim Abdallah," State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement on social media. "His release threatens the safety of U.S. diplomats abroad and is a grave injustice to the victims and the families of those killed. The United States will continue to support the pursuit of justice in this matter," she added. While Abdallah had been eligible for release since 1999, his previous requests were denied as the United States -- a civil party to the case -- had consistently opposing his leaving prison. Abdallah, who is Lebanese of Maronite Christian heritage, has always insisted he is not a "criminal" but a "fighter" for the rights of Palestinians, whom he said were targeted, along with Lebanon, by the United States and Israel.
Free Malaysia Today
27-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Lebanese radical released after 40 years in French jail
Georges Ibrahim Abdallah was welcomed by family members as he disembarked in Beirut today. (AFP pic) LANNEMEZAN : One of France's longest-held inmates, the pro-Palestinian Lebanese radical Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, 74, was released from prison and deported today, after more than 40 years behind bars for the killings of two diplomats. At around 3.40am, 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 US – 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 yesterday. '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 rebel '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.
Kuwait Times
26-07-2025
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Lebanese militant back home after 40 years in French jail
KOBAYAT: Lebanese army soldiers stand guard as pro-Palestinian Lebanese militant Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, 74, prepares to give a press conference upon his arrival in his village of Kobayat in Lebanon's northern Akkar region on July 25, 2025, after serving more than 40 years in jail in France. – AFP KOBAYAT: One of France's longest-held inmates, the pro-Palestinian Lebanese militant Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, arrived in his hometown on Friday, having been released after more than 40 years behind bars for the killings of two diplomats. AFP journalists saw a convoy leaving the Lannemezan prison in southwest France, and hours later, the 74-year-old was placed on a plane and deported back to Lebanon, to be welcomed by family members on his return to Beirut at the airport's VIP lounge. Back in his hometown of Kobayat, near the Syrian border in north Lebanon, hundreds of men, women and children gathered to welcome Abdallah. 'Whether or not we agree with his ideas... we first and foremost salute the man,' lawmaker Jimmy Jabbour, who is from the area, told AFP, hailing Abdallah's 'perseverance'. 'The whole village is happy that he's back... 41 years in prison, others would have probably lost their minds,' said Kobayat resident Claudette Tannous, 68. Earlier at Beirut airport, an AFP correspondent said dozens of supporters, some waving Palestinian or Lebanese Communist Party flags, gathered near the arrivals hall to give him a hero's reception. In his first public address after being released, Abdallah took aim at ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, where human rights organizations have warned of mass starvation. 'The children of Palestine are dying of hunger while millions of Arabs watch,' he said. 'Resistance must continue and intensify,' added the former schoolteacher. There was no official comment on his return from the Lebanese government. 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 Zionist 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 his leaving prison. Inmates serving life sentences in France are typically freed after fewer than 30 years. Abdallah's lawyer, Jean-Louis Chalanset, visited him 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. The charge d'affaires of the Lebanese Embassy in Paris, Ziad Taan, who saw Georges Abdallah before his departure, told AFP that he was 'well, in good health, very happy to return to Lebanon to his family and to regain his freedom'. AFP visited Abdallah last week after the court's release decision, accompanying a lawmaker to the detention center. The founder of the Lebanese Revolutionary Armed Factions (FARL) - a long-disbanded Marxist anti-Zionist 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 his crimes, and pointed to his age. — AFP
Middle East Eye
26-07-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
US condemns France's release of political prisoner Georges Abdallah
The United States has voiced strong opposition to France's decision to free Georges Ibrahim Abdallah and deport him to Lebanon. 'The United States opposes his release,' said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce in a statement shared on X. 'His release threatens the safety of US diplomats abroad and is a grave injustice to the victims and the families of those killed,' claimed Washington Washington also said it would continue backing efforts to seek justice in the case. Abdallah, a pro-Palestinian Lebanese fighter, was jailed in 1984 for the killing of an American and an Israeli diplomat in France. After serving nearly four decades, a French appeals court ordered his release, citing the length of his imprisonment and his age, calling continued detention 'disproportionate.'
Al Arabiya
26-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
US criticizes French release of jailed Lebanese militant
The United States on Saturday criticized the release from a French prison of pro-Palestinian Lebanese militant Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, who spent more than 40 years behind bars for the killings of two diplomats, one of them American. 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. Earlier this month, a French appeals court ordered Abdallah's release on the condition that he leave French territory and never return. He left a prison in southwest France on Friday and later arrived in his hometown in Lebanon. 'The United States opposes the French government's release and expulsion to Lebanon of convicted terrorist Georges Ibrahim Abdallah,' State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement on social media. 'His release threatens the safety of US diplomats abroad and is a grave injustice to the victims and the families of those killed. The United States will continue to support the pursuit of justice in this matter.' While Abdallah had been eligible for release since 1999, his previous requests were denied as the United States -- a civil party to the case -- had consistently opposing his leaving prison. Abdallah, who is Lebanese of Maronite Christian heritage, has always insisted he is not a 'criminal' but a 'fighter' for the rights of Palestinians, whom he said were targeted, along with Lebanon, by the United States and Israel.
