George Abdallah, Symbol of Resistance, Returns to Beirut
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and Al-Mayadeen, after 41 years in prison, George Ibrahim Abdallah, a Lebanese activist and steadfast supporter of the Palestinian cause, was finally released from French prisons and arrived at Beirut International Airport a few minutes ago.
Abdallah has now reunited with his family.
George Abdallah is recognized as one of the symbolic figures supporting the palestinian resistance.
Who is George Abdallah?
George Abdallah is one of Europe’s longest-held political prisoners. In 1984, he was arrested in Lyon, France on charges of possessing a false Algerian passport after being pursued by Israeli Mossad. In 1978, he joined the Popular Front for the Liberation of palestine (PFLP) and later participated in founding armed revolutionary factions in Lebanon in 1981. He was later accused of involvement in assassinations targeting American and Israeli diplomats.
In 1999, abdallah met conditions for his release outlined under French penal law, and in 2003 a parole decision was issued. However, France’s public prosecutor appealed this decision repeatedly to delay his release. By 2005 the prosecutor opposed any move toward his freedom.
in 2006, prosecutors rejected requests for Abdallah’s release arguing that France’s reputation with the United States and its allies would be damaged if he were freed. They also maintained that deporting him to Lebanon would not guarantee no recurrence of similar acts.
The seventh parole request filed by Abdallah’s lawyer in October 2007 was denied. After subsequent appeals and delays extending into April 2008-and further applications through an eighth request approved conditionally on leaving French territory-the process remained suspended due to prosecutorial challenges.
The ninth parole petition submitted in 2014 was similarly rejected by enforcement courts. A February court hearing postponed any decision on releasing Abdallah pending payment towards compensation demanded by families of assassinated American and Israeli diplomats-a condition that abdallah consistently refused while denying any involvement in those attacks.
A judiciary session last November granted approval for his release but it was instantly suspended following an appeal from France’s counterterrorism public prosecution office.
The French judiciary finally decided on July 17th this year to free this Lebanese fighter after four decades behind bars. Solidarity campaigns supporting Abdallah intensified notably over recent months.
