Lebanon
24.05.02
Urgent Interventions
Lebanon: killing of Mr. Irani
Case LBN 240502
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Lebanon.
Brief description of the facts
Following a letter to the President of the Republic dated 16/05/02 concerning the disappearance of Mr. Ramzi Irani, remaining without response till this day, the International Secretariat of OMCT was informed by credible sources of the death of Mr. Ramzi Irani, an engineer working for Total and an activist for the Lebanese Forces (Forces Libanaises, FL).
On Tuesday 7 May, at 16:30, Mr. Irani disappeared while he was leaving his office in the neighborhood of Hamra in Beirut. No news about his situation had been sent to us by 20th May, the date in which his body was found in the trunk of his car, parked in Beirut. According to preliminary information, he had been dead for several days.
The political group to which Mr. Ramzi Irani belonged had been persecuted in the past. Without reaching hasty conclusions concerning this complex affair, the World Organization Against Torture (Organisation mondiale contre la torture, OMCT), nevertheless insists that an investigation into the case be launched so that light can be shed upon the death of Mr. Irani.
Actions requested
We request you kindly to write to the authorities in the Republic of Lebanon, urging them to:
· order an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the above-mentioned cases in order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal, civil and or administrative sanctions as provided by law;
· guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.
Adresses
1. Président de la République du Liban Emile Lahoud, Bureau du Président, Palais Ba'abda, Ba'abda, Beirut, Liban Fax: (961) 1-425 393 or 5-959 210, e-mail : opendoor@presidency.gov.lb
2. SEM Rafic Hariri, Premier Ministre, Palais du Gouvernement, Beirut, Fax : (961) 1-983 061
3. Ministre de la Justice, Samir Jisr, Ministère de la Justice, Rue Sami Solh, Beirut, Liban, Fax : (961) 1-611 142 or 1-422 957
4. Ministre Elias Michel Murr, Ministère de l’Intérieur (Riad El Solh), Beirut, Fax 01-751 622
5. Procureur Général, Juge ‘Adnan ‘Addoum, Palais de Justice Beirut, Liban Fax : (961) 1-422951
6. Institut des Droits de l’homme, Beirut, Me Georges Assaf, Fax (961) 1-480 551
7. Ministre Khalil Hraoui, Ministère de la Défense Nationale, Beirut, Fax (961) 1-457 920
Please write to the diplomatic representatives of the Republic of Lebanon in your country.
Geneva, 24 May 2002
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Lebanon.
Brief description of the facts
Following a letter to the President of the Republic dated 16/05/02 concerning the disappearance of Mr. Ramzi Irani, remaining without response till this day, the International Secretariat of OMCT was informed by credible sources of the death of Mr. Ramzi Irani, an engineer working for Total and an activist for the Lebanese Forces (Forces Libanaises, FL).
On Tuesday 7 May, at 16:30, Mr. Irani disappeared while he was leaving his office in the neighborhood of Hamra in Beirut. No news about his situation had been sent to us by 20th May, the date in which his body was found in the trunk of his car, parked in Beirut. According to preliminary information, he had been dead for several days.
The political group to which Mr. Ramzi Irani belonged had been persecuted in the past. Without reaching hasty conclusions concerning this complex affair, the World Organization Against Torture (Organisation mondiale contre la torture, OMCT), nevertheless insists that an investigation into the case be launched so that light can be shed upon the death of Mr. Irani.
Actions requested
We request you kindly to write to the authorities in the Republic of Lebanon, urging them to:
· order an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the above-mentioned cases in order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal, civil and or administrative sanctions as provided by law;
· guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.
Adresses
1. Président de la République du Liban Emile Lahoud, Bureau du Président, Palais Ba'abda, Ba'abda, Beirut, Liban Fax: (961) 1-425 393 or 5-959 210, e-mail : opendoor@presidency.gov.lb
2. SEM Rafic Hariri, Premier Ministre, Palais du Gouvernement, Beirut, Fax : (961) 1-983 061
3. Ministre de la Justice, Samir Jisr, Ministère de la Justice, Rue Sami Solh, Beirut, Liban, Fax : (961) 1-611 142 or 1-422 957
4. Ministre Elias Michel Murr, Ministère de l’Intérieur (Riad El Solh), Beirut, Fax 01-751 622
5. Procureur Général, Juge ‘Adnan ‘Addoum, Palais de Justice Beirut, Liban Fax : (961) 1-422951
6. Institut des Droits de l’homme, Beirut, Me Georges Assaf, Fax (961) 1-480 551
7. Ministre Khalil Hraoui, Ministère de la Défense Nationale, Beirut, Fax (961) 1-457 920
Please write to the diplomatic representatives of the Republic of Lebanon in your country.
Geneva, 24 May 2002