On Thursday, the Al-Khiyam Center for the Rehabilitation of Torture Victims held a symbolic sit-in protest in front of the Government Serail in Beirut. The demonstration, organized under the banner "Sit-in for Freedom for Detainees, Against Ongoing Aggression, and Against Government Negligence," drew participation from a coalition of civil society organizations, Lebanese and Palestinian political groups, detainees' family members, union representatives, and media figures.
Participants displayed posters and recited the names of detainees, calling on the government to expedite reconstruction efforts, provide support for displaced persons, and formally declare a comprehensive state of emergency encompassing political, diplomatic, media, and social spheres.
The event featured several addresses from key speakers. International Relations researcher Shahnaz Ghiyadh expressed solidarity with Lebanese and Palestinian prisoners, stating that detainees are enduring severe violations of international law and the Geneva Conventions within Israeli prisons. Ghiyadh emphasized that prisoners represent more than statistics—they are individuals with suspended lives and aspirations—and urged the state to intensify diplomatic pressure and advocate forcefully in international forums to secure their release.
Fatima Kurki, sister of detainee Hussein Kurki, addressed the gathering, stressing that prisoners constitute a central national concern, not a peripheral issue. She criticized the silence of official bodies and international committees, which exacerbates the suffering of affected families, and affirmed that the campaign for prisoners' rights is a collective national endeavor that will persist until all are freed.
Mohammad Safa, Director of the Al-Khiyam Center, explained that the sit-in aimed to draw attention to the plight of Lebanese and Palestinian detainees, challenge official silence on their cases, and condemn continued Israeli military aggression. Safa noted that this aggression includes violations of ceasefire agreements and a refusal to withdraw from occupied Lebanese territories. He further criticized the Lebanese government and authorities for negligence in safeguarding the nation and its citizens, calling for a declared state of emergency to address Israeli escalation and ongoing external threats. Safa framed the situation as a fundamental national struggle against actions that threaten Lebanese sovereignty and the security of its people.