Lebanon launched its first court sessions inside Roumieh Prison on Tuesday. This marks a significant move aimed at accelerating legal proceedings and addressing severe prison overcrowding.
Minister of Justice Adel Nassar confirmed the launching in a statement, following a joint visit with Minister of Interior and Municipalities Ahmad al-Hajjar to the newly designated courtroom within the facility.
According to the Ministry of Justice, 20 sessions were held on the opening day. Verdicts were issued in seven cases, while the remaining sessions were postponed for judgment announcements. The ministry emphasized that this step will help alleviate congestion in detention centers and streamline the justice process.
“This achievement is the result of coordinated efforts among all relevant parties and reflects a shared commitment to serve Lebanon’s interests, uphold justice and protect human rights,” said Nassar, thanking the Minister of Interior, the judiciary, lawyers and the Internal Security Forces for their collaboration.
The launch comes in the wake of a parliamentary debate on proposed amnesty legislation and months after the previous government called for the urgent establishment of a prison inspection committee. The body should include a judge from the Court of Cassation, a representative from the Internal Security Forces (ISF) and a delegate from the Red Cross.
Overcrowding remains a central argument for proponents of the amnesty bill. The scale of the crisis is widely acknowledged. Lebanon’s Director General of Prisons, Colonel Bilal Omar, told This is Beirut that the country’s incarceration facilities are operating at a staggering 300% of their intended capacity.
This situation worsened following the destruction of six prisons during the Israeli war between September and November 2024. Damaged facilities include those in Nabatiyeh, Marjayoun, Tibnine, Bint Jbeil, Tyre and Baalbeck.
President Joseph Aoun indirectly referenced the issue in his inaugural address, pledging to ensure judicial independence and accelerate trial proceedings, two critical steps toward resolving the nation’s prison overcrowding crisis.
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