Lebanese prisoners detained in the UAE released after inmate’s death

The group of 10 were detained in March and accused of having links to Lebanon’s Shiite movement Hezbollah, which Abu Dhabi classifies as a terrorist organisation

One of the detainees, Ghazi Ezzedine, died in custody on May 4, prompting a backlash from rights groups including Amnesty International

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A supporter of Lebanese citizens detained in the United Arab Emirates protests in front of the Foreign Ministry headquarters in downtown Beirut, Lebanon on May 15. The 10 prisoners were freed on Saturday. Photo: AP

Published: 2:03am, 28 May 2023

Lebanese citizens detained in the United Arab Emirates since March have been freed, Lebanon’s foreign affairs ministry said in a statement on Saturday – weeks after a fellow national died in custody.

Lebanon’s ambassador to Abu Dhabi informed his ministry “of the release of all 10 Lebanese detainees arrested in the UAE about two months ago”, the statement said.

The group of 10 were detained in March and accused of having links to Lebanon’s Shiite movement Hezbollah, which Abu Dhabi classifies as a “terrorist” organisation, said Afif Shoman, a spokesman for the relatives of Lebanese detained in the UAE.

“They have been freed but remain in the UAE,” he said.

A supporter of Lebanese citizens detained in the United Arab Emirates protests in front of the Foreign Ministry in downtown Beirut, Lebanon on May 15. Photo: AP

One of the detainees, Ghazi Ezzedine, died in custody on May 4, prompting a backlash from rights groups including Amnesty International.

The nine remaining detainees “were released after backlash and a media campaign following the death of Ezzedine”, Shoman said, adding that his body had not yet been returned to his family.