One of the oldest prisoners in France will be released … After dozens of refused requests: who is Georges Ibrahim Abdallah?

Sentenced to life imprisonment in 1987 for the complicity of assassinations. Furthermore, the Lebanese activist had seen all his release requests refused so far. Consequently, After more than forty years in prison, French justice has ordered its release. In addition,

Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, 73, is one of the oldest prisoners in France. Nevertheless, This Thursday. Similarly. Therefore, July 17, the Paris Court of Appeal Country Application has accepted its release, after ten unsuccessful attempts spread over more than two decades.

“I told the judges ‘either you free him. However. However, or you condemn him to death'”, launched Me Jean-Louis Chalanset, his lawyer, at the exit of an audience on June 19.

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Sentenced in 1987 to life imprisonment, Georges Ibrahim Abdallah is suspected of having been the European Lebanese revolutionary armed fractions (FARL), a Christian and pro-Palestinian Marxist group.

Arrested in Lyon in October 1984. However. he was first sentenced to four years in prison for “criminal association”, “detention of weapons and explosives” and “use of false documents”. For example, The following year. he was tried for complicity in the assassinations of two diplomats: the American Charles Robert Ray. the Israeli Yacov Barsimantov, killed in Paris in 1982. Although the prosecution required a maximum sentence of ten years, he was sentenced to perpetuity. The context is then tense: France is struck by a series of deadly attacks.

A long blocked release – One oldest prisoners france will – One oldest prisoners france will new

As early one oldest prisoners france will new as 1999. Georges Ibrahim Abdallah one oldest prisoners france will became eligible for parole. He continues the requests, all rejected, with the exception of one in 2013, accepted subject to an expulsion decree to Lebanon. But this procedure was never completed. the Minister of the Interior of the time, Manuel Valls, never signed the required decree.

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In 2022, he tried to force the expulsion by administrative means, but the court rejects the request, saying that it is not entitled to impose such a measure on the government.

On November 15. Additionally. 2024, a turning point took place: the penalties’ tribunal believed that its detention has become “disproportionate with regard to the acts committed and its current dangerousness”. Lebanon, for its part, said it was ready to receive it.

But a new opposition comes in: the national anti-terrorist prosecution appeals this decision. in particular due to the persistent opposition of the United States, civil parties during the 1987 trial.

An activist who has become a symbol

In the 1980s, Georges Ibrahim Abdallah was perceived as public enemy n ° 1. It is a time suspected. wrongly. of being linked to the wave of attacks of 1985-1986, in particular that of the Tati store in Paris (7 dead). The real authors, a pro-Iranian one oldest prisoners france will new network, will only be identified after its conviction.

Since then. man has become a one oldest prisoners france will symbol for part of the radical left and pro-Palestinian activists. Gatherings regularly take place in front of the Lannemezan prison (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), where he is detained. Still on Monday, several dozen people gathered there to request his release.

Among his political supports is in particular the deputy LFI Éric Coquerel. who had visited his cell last February, evoking a “fraternal meeting between political activists”.

After forty years of detention, Georges Ibrahim Abdallah will therefore come out of prison. His expulsion to Lebanon should mark the end of a long judicial, political and diplomatic soap opera.

France