AN ALLIANCE BEYOND THE LAW

Enforced Disappearances in Lebanon

SUMMARY 3

RECOMMENDATIONS 5

INTRODUCTION 8

THE METHODOLOGY OF ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES IN LEBANON 9

Apprehension and Irregular Arrest by State Agents 9

Gabi `Aql Karam: "Disappeared" in January 1997 10

Magi `Aql Karam: "Disappeared" in March 1997 11

Bashir al-Khatib: "Disappeared" in July 1996 11

Unacknowledged Detention 12

Abdallah Diab Hussein al-Razayneh: "Disappeared" in 1984 12

Rushdi Rashed Hamdan Shehab: "Disappeared" in 1987 13

Boutros Khawand: "Disappeared" in 1992 13

Derar al-Karmi: "Disappeared" in January 1997 14

Torture in Syrian Custody 16

Coercion to Collaborate with Syrian Intelligence in Lebanon 17

THE FAILURE OF THE LEBANESE GOVERNMENT TO ACT 19

Consequences of the Lack of Legal Remedies in Lebanon 20

The Price of Fear 21

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS 22

FOR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF THE "DISAPPEARED": WHAT YOU CAN DO 24

APPENDIX A: Excerpt of Human Rights Watch Statement to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights

on Prisoners and Detainees Inside Israel 27

APPENDIX B: Legal Complaint about the Abduction and Unlawful Detention of Gabi `Aql Karam 28

APPENDIX C: Legal Complaint about the Unlawful Detention of Magi `Aql Karam 33

APPENDIX D: Form for Submission of Information about "Disappearance" to the Working Group

on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances 37

ABOUT THIS REPORT

This report was written by Virginia N. Sherry, associate director of Human Rights Watch/Middle East. It is based on information that Ms. Sherry obtained during fact-finding missions to Lebanon from August 8-September 4, 1995, and from July 25-August 22, 1996, as well as subsequent research. The report also includes information collected by Houeida Saad, an attorney and consultant to Human Rights Watch, who conducted a fact-finding mission in Lebanon from October 31-November 16, 1996. The report was edited by Eric Goldstein, acting executive director of Human Rights Watch/Middle East, and Michael McClintock, deputy program director of Human Rights Watch. Awali Samara, associate at Human Rights Watch/Middle East, skillfully prepared this report and its appendices for publication.

The author dedicates this report to the "disappeared" who are still alive in Syria and to the families who continue to wait for Syrian government confirmation of their whereabouts. The author also wishes to thank the Lebanese and Palestinians without whose cooperation this report would have been impossible to write. For reasons related to their own security and safety, most of these sources asked to remain anonymous.

With generous support from the J.M. Kaplan Fund, this report will be translated into Arabic.

* * *