Bassam Al Kantar, Commissioner for International Relations and Media at the National Human Rights Commission, which includes the Committee for the Prevention of Torture, participated in the first episode of the “Saraya Dialogues” program, broadcast on Tele Liban. The guest of the episode was Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Tarek Mitri, who discussed the scope of his work within his ministerial powers and responsibilities, particularly in relation to Lebanese-Syrian relations.
During his intervention, Al Kantar emphasized the National Human Rights Commission’s commitment to upholding Lebanon’s international obligations, especially the Convention Against Torture. He pointed out that the Commission has documented multiple violations in recent years of the principle of non-refoulement, perpetrated by certain security agencies and judges, despite higher judicial authorities overturning many of the forced deportation decisions.
He added that the Commission conducts regular visits to Lebanese prisons under the authority granted by Law 62/2016, which permits access to places of deprivation of liberty without prior permission from any judicial or security body. During these visits, they meet with detainees of various nationalities—Lebanese, Syrian, Palestinian, and others—to report their ongoing suffering caused by judicial congestion and trial delays. He called for the acceleration of court proceedings to avoid prolonged pretrial detention, which he described as arbitrary and unjustified.
Al Kantar stressed that the continuation of arbitrary detention represents a grave violation of human rights and requires urgent judicial reform. He confirmed the Commission’s principled and inclusive approach that covers all detainees, regardless of nationality. He emphasized that the judicial backlog crisis must be addressed comprehensively rather than through temporary or piecemeal legal solutions.
He also welcomed the recent Cabinet decision to approve the internal and financial decrees of the National Human Rights Commission, describing it as a critical milestone in strengthening the Commission’s independence and enabling it to fulfill its oversight and preventive roles in line with international standards, particularly the Paris Principles. He called for the full implementation of all related decrees and the allocation of necessary financial and human resources to firmly establish the Commission’s independence from any supervisory authority.
For his part, Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Tarek Mitri praised NHRC-CPT’s remarks, affirming that ethical and humanitarian considerations require an end to the injustice faced by all untried detainees, whether Lebanese, Syrian, Palestinian, or of other nationalities. He noted that addressing these issues must occur within a comprehensive and balanced framework that protects human dignity and restores trust between the Lebanese and Syrian communities.
Mitri also stressed that the principle of non-refoulement is a moral and humanitarian standard before being a legal obligation. He noted that although Lebanon has not signed the 1951 Refugee Convention, respecting this principle is a duty for all civilized nations that uphold human values.
This participation comes within the context of enhancing partnerships between national human rights institutions and public authorities and affirming the National Human Rights Commission’s central role in monitoring violations and defending human dignity in Lebanon.
It’s worth mentioning that the “Saraya Dialogues” program launched on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. It is a weekly discussion series featuring ministers from the “Reform and Rescue” government, organized by the Government Communication Unit at the Prime Minister’s Office in cooperation with Tele Liban.
The program aims to reinforce a culture of transparency in public affairs and foster constructive communication with citizens and stakeholders across various sectors. It covers a range of political, reform, and sectoral issues related to each ministry’s agenda, in addition to topics of public interest that directly impact daily life.
“Saraya Dialogues,” hosted by journalist Nada Saliba, is broadcast live from the Grand Serail every Tuesday at 8:30 PM on Tele Liban and streamed on all social media platforms of the Prime Minister’s Office, Tele Liban, and the National News Agency.
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