‘Dire situation’: Lebanese prisoners on hunger strike for 18 days

What the report says

Lebanese prisoners at Roumieh prison, the country’s largest detention facility, have been on hunger strike since September 12 in protest against the suspension of a general amnesty law, Al Jazeera reported on September 30, 2026. According to Lebanese lawyer and prisoners’ rights campaigner Mohammed Sablouh, the health of dozens of inmates has worsened to the point that ambulances are being called in daily, and many prisoners are refusing food, water and medication.

Al Jazeera said the strike involves about 400 prisoners. The disputed amnesty measure had been expected to allow some detainees to be released sooner or receive reduced sentences, particularly those convicted of petty crimes. The report also noted that demonstrations have taken place in Tripoli, Lebanon’s second city, over the same issue.

The situation highlights long-running problems in Lebanon’s prison system, which Sablouh described as severely overcrowded, with the prison population far above capacity. The article said the system has been strained by lengthy pre-trial detention, judicial delays and poor conditions. It also reported that many of the affected prisoners were detained in connection with support for the Syrian uprising against former President Bashar al-Assad.

The news matters because the hunger strike and the stalled amnesty debate could affect prison conditions, detainee health and broader questions about judicial reform and overcrowding in Lebanon’s detention system.