Legal Complaint about the Unlawful Detention of Magi `Aql Karam

Law Office

Dr. Muhamad Mugraby

Beirut

Beirut, 3/15/1997

To His Excellency, the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation

Complaint

The plaintiff: Ms. Magi 'Aql Karam , wife of Mr. Nasif Freij

Her attorney, Muhamad Mugraby, in accordance with a power of attorney, attached.

The accusation: Unlawful detention

We submit the following:

First: Regarding the factual evidence

1. On Saturday, March 1, 1997, in accordance with a legal summons issued by the Syrian intelligence service in Chtoura to the principal for the purposes of questioning her about an unknown matter, and in accordance with reassurances from one of the siblings of Minister Fattoush, the principal went to the the site of the aforementioned intelligence service.

2. The aforementioned intelligence service has detained her since that time.

3. Information has reached her family that the principal has been moved out of Lebanese territory.

4. Now, after a wait of two full weeks, there has been no information about Magi's place of detention, nor of the accusation made against her. Her brother Gabi was previously detained, on last January 6, and has not yet returned.

Secondly: Under the law

1. Inasmuch as the legal facts of the principal's abduction and her unlawful detention have been established.

2. Inasmuch as it is understood that no official Lebanese agency is the one that arrested and detained her. Otherwise, she would have been able to contact her family to reassure them and she would have requested the assistance of a lawyer.

3. Inasmuch as there are numerous Lebanese and non-Lebanese security forces operating on Lebanese territory, we are prompted to turn to you, in your capacity as the presiding head of the Public Prosecutors and as the primary official entrusted with the liberties and dignities of the people.

4. Inasmuch as it is necessary to assign the central investigative service, attached to your office, to investigate these crimes, it having been established that Ms. Magi 'Aql Karam has not been detained by any official Lebanese security force.

5. In the case that Ms. Magi 'Aql Karam is found to have been detained by an official Lebanese or non-Lebanese security force, your immediate intervention will be necessary to secure her release.

Therefore

This complaint through my aforementioned power of attorney takes the form of a personal accusation against unknown parties of the abduction and unlawful detention of the principal. It requests that an investigation be set in motion leading to information about her place of detention and the recovery of her personal freedom.

Sincerely yours,

Vested with power of attorney,

[signature]

Muhamad Mugraby, Attorney