Jreisati: Turkey interested in solving the case of kidnapped Lebanese in Aazaz

 
The ministerial committee tasked to follow up the case of the Lebanese pilgrims kidnapped in Syria’s Aazaz, held a meeting on Friday at the Interior Ministry under the chairmanship of Labor Minister Salim Jreisati. Interior Minister Marwan Charbel, Justice Minister Shakib Kortbawi and Foreign Affairs Minister attended the meeting.  

The ministers discussed the latest updates concerning the case of the kidnapped pilgrims in Syria and the case of Lebanese national George Abdallah detained in French prisons.

Following the meeting, Minister Jreisati reported that the latest visit of the Lebanese delegation to Turkey revealed that the Turkish authorities are interested in contributing to solve this matter.  

On Abdallah’s case, Jreisati said that his release is conditioned by the approval of the French state and judiciary, stressing that Lebanon is ready to receive Abdallah. 

The eleven  Lebanese pilgrims were kidnapped on their way back from Iran by insurgents hoping to use them for a prisoner swap on the 20th of May. Only two have so far been released. 

Abdallah had been in prison for over 28 years, even though French law limits the maximum sentence of any prisoner to 18.

He was accused of engaging in commando operations carried out by the Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Factions; the court was not able to present concrete evidence against him in this regard so far.