Darfur prisoners in Lebanon on hunger strike

At least 11 Darfuri asylum seekers in Lebanese prisons are continuing a hunger strike for the ninth consecutive day, sources told Radio Dabanga on Thursday, 18 October. They said the prisoners, some of them detained for more than nine months, are protesting against the unfair reasons for their arrest. According to reports, the Sudanese were arrested by public security upon entering Lebanon, despite having documents proving their refugee and asylum status. Sources announced the prisoners are requesting humanitarian actors to release them and provide them with legal protection as refugees and asylum seekers. Speaking to Radio Dabanga from Lebanon, sources said the Lebanese security recently transferred the Sudanese to prisons outside the capital Beirut. They said many prisoners are denied any visits and that their health is deteriorating, what led to their hospitalization last Tuesday. Underground cells Sheikh Ali Jumbo, who was detained for about one month, told Radio Dabanga that asylum seekers are placed in underground cells by the Lebanese public security. He added the detainees do not have access to lawyers and are subjected to torture, abuse and racism while kept in 4x4m solitary cages. Ali Jumbo demanded that human rights organizations intervene and release the Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers from Lebanese prisons. He also demanded that the Sudanese are given legal protection as Lebanon does not recognize the Geneva Convention for Refugees.See also: A Sudanese detainee claims to be abused in Libya prison (20 August 2012)