400 inmates on hunger strike at Lebanon's Roumieh prison for 18 days
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About 400 inmates at Lebanon's Roumieh prison have been on hunger strike since September 12, with dozens in dire medical condition. Ambulances enter daily to remove prisoners refusing food, water, and medication, according to lawyer Mohammed Sablouh. The strike protests the suspension of a general amnesty law that could have released or reduced sentences for many.
Key Facts
- About 400 prisoners at Roumieh prison began a hunger strike on September 12, 2026.
- Dozens of striking inmates are in dire medical condition, with ambulances entering daily to remove them.
- The prisoners are refusing medication, food, and water, according to lawyer Mohammed Sablouh.
- Lebanon's prison population stands at about 8,500, nearly double capacity, with overcrowding exceeding 330 percent.
- More than 40 prisoners died in 2025 from medical neglect, torture, or suicide.
Hunger Strike
The hunger strike at Roumieh prison began on September 12 in protest against the suspension of a general amnesty law. The law, passed on August 12, aimed to address overcrowded prison conditions and included provisions to release inmates jailed for petty crimes. Many of the striking prisoners were arrested for solidarity with the Syrian revolution against President Bashar al-Assad, who was toppled in December 2024. The Free Patriotic Movement filed an appeal before the Constitutional Council over concerns that some inmates were charged with terrorism. The Constitutional Council is expected to issue its verdict next month.
Prison Conditions
Lebanese prisons are notorious for overcrowding, with thousands of inmates spending years behind bars without trial. Lebanon's current prison population stands at about 8,500, nearly double its capacity. Prison overcrowding exceeds 330 percent of the facilities' actual capacity, according to Sablouh. More than 40 prisoners died in 2025, some due to medical neglect, others under torture, and some by suicide due to prolonged trials and repeated postponements. Sablouh blamed judicial delays for the large number of inmates, many arrested for petty crimes, and pointed to the failure to adhere to Article 108 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which sets limits for pre-trial detention.
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