Action Group – Beirut
The Action Group’s correspondent in Lebanon reported that Lebanese authorities at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport detained a Palestinian refugee from Syria (born in 1961) for more than six hours upon his arrival from Germany, while heading to Syria.
According to information obtained by the correspondent, there were no legal, judicial, or criminal grounds preventing his entry or the continuation of his journey.
The correspondent explained that the refugee has resided in Germany since 2002 and holds permanent residency there, in addition to a Palestinian Authority passport, a Palestinian-Syrian document, and a Syrian identity card. He has been unable to visit Syria since the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in 2011.
According to the correspondent, the man was eagerly anticipating a reunion with his family and relatives after more than fifteen years of separation, a long-awaited visit. However, his journey turned into a lengthy period of detention and uncertainty, amidst threats of being returned to Germany, causing him and his family considerable anxiety and shock.
The group’s correspondent noted that the journey took approximately two days, as he had to travel from Germany to Jordan, then to Beirut, before continuing his journey by land to Syria. This route reflects the immense suffering faced by Palestinian refugees from Syria during their travels, due to multiple stops, high costs, and long journey times.
This incident once again highlights the legal and administrative difficulties faced by Palestinian refugees from Syria during their travels, in the absence of a specialized body to follow up on their cases and defend their rights. This leaves them vulnerable to individual interpretations of procedures.
The incident also raises renewed questions about the mechanisms for dealing with Palestinian refugees from Syria at Beirut Airport, given what observers describe as the ambiguity in the application of instructions. Procedures can vary from case to case depending on the discretion of the staff, which only exacerbates the uncertainty surrounding their travel.
The Action Group for Palestinians of Syria calls on the Lebanese authorities to clarify the procedures regulating the entry and passage of Palestinian refugees from Syria, in a way that ensures their clear and fair application, and preserves the dignity of travelers and their legal rights.