Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, a pro-Palestinian Lebanese fighter, was released from a French prison after spending nearly four decades behind bars. Abdallah, 74, was freed on Friday and boarded a flight to Lebanon, following a Paris Court of Appeal ruling in favor of his release. The court had ruled that Abdallah’s continued imprisonment was “disproportionate” given the length of his detention and advanced age.
Abdallah was convicted in 1987 for his role in the killings of US military attaché Charles Robert Ray and Israeli diplomat Yacov Barsimantov in Paris. Despite being eligible for release for some time, his applications were repeatedly rejected, often due to pressure from the US, which was a civil party in Abdallah’s case. The Paris Court of Appeal’s decision to release Abdallah came with the condition that he leave French territory and never return.
According to his lawyer, Jean-Louis Chalanset, Abdallah appeared “very happy” during their final visit, despite knowing he would be returning to the Middle East amidst a challenging context for Lebanese and Palestinian populations. Abdallah has consistently maintained that he is a “fighter” who has battled for the rights of Palestinians, rather than a “criminal”. He has never expressed regret for his actions.
The court described Abdallah’s behavior in prison as irreproachable and noted that he posed “no serious risk in terms of committing new terrorism acts”. Abdallah’s family welcomed him at Beirut’s airport and planned to travel to his hometown of Kobayat in northern Lebanon, where a reception was planned.
Abdallah’s release marks the end of a long and complex chapter in his life. As the founder of the now-defunct Lebanese Revolutionary Armed Factions, Abdallah declared during a recent visit by a lawmaker that he remained a “militant with a struggle”. French police had uncovered submachine guns and communication equipment in one of his flats at the time of his arrest in 1984.