The medical condition of approximately 400 inmates at Lebanon’s largest prison has become “dire” as they continue a hunger strike now in its 18th day. The prisoners are protesting the suspension of a general amnesty law that could have led to their immediate release or reduced sentences.

Lawyer Mohammed Sablouh, director of the Prisoners’ Rights Center at the Tripoli Bar Association, described the situation as critical, stating that ambulances are called daily to transport dozens of inmates due to their deteriorating health. The prisoners are reportedly refusing all medication, food, and water in their protest, which began on September 12.

Sablouh explained that the inmates are protesting the suspension of the amnesty law, which included provisions for releasing prisoners convicted of minor offenses. Protests have also occurred in Tripoli, Lebanon’s second-largest city, mirroring the inmates' demands.

The suspension of the law followed an appeal filed by the Free Patriotic Movement before the Constitutional Council. The party raised concerns that some inmates included in the amnesty were charged with “terrorism,” and the council is expected to deliver its verdict next month.

Lebanese prisons are severely overcrowded, with the current population of about 8,500 inmates nearly double the facilities' capacity. The amnesty law, passed on August 12, was intended to alleviate these conditions, which Sablouh characterized as tragic and unable to withstand further strain.

Compounding the issue of overcrowding, Sablouh highlighted the problem of judicial delays. He noted that over 40 prisoners died in 2025, attributing some deaths to medical neglect, torture, and suicide resulting from prolonged trials and postponements. Many inmates are held for petty crimes and remain incarcerated for years without trial.

Sablouh also pointed to the judiciary’s failure to adhere to Article 108 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which sets limits for pre-trial detention. This article stipulates a two-month limit for misdemeanors, renewable for an equal period, and a six-month limit for felonies, also renewable up to a maximum of one year.

The ongoing hunger strike and the deteriorating health of the inmates underscore the deep-seated issues within Lebanon's penal system, including severe overcrowding, judicial backlogs, and the human cost of these systemic failures.