Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: Gaza's hospitals recorded six deaths due to starvation and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, all of them adults
Informed sources to Al Mayadeen: A new chapter in relations between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency will begin within the framework of the new law passed by Parliament
Informed sources to Al Mayadeen: The talks will focus on the political aspect, and the agency's delegation will not be accompanied by any inspector
Informed sources to Al Mayadeen: An IAEA delegation will visit Tehran next week to discuss mechanisms for implementing the parliament's law suspending cooperation with the agency
Palestinian media: Herds of Israeli settlers storm the al-Aqsa Mosque and perform Talmudic rituals in it
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: 15 martyrs were transferred to hospitals in the Gaza Strip in the past few hours as the Israeli occupation continues its aggression on the camps of the displaced
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: 38 were killed since dawn on Saturday, as the Israeli occupation army targeted aid seekers at distribution sites
Palestinian Red Crescent: One martyr, several injuries among our teams after the occupation bombed the association's headquarters in al-Amal neighborhood, west of Khan Younis.

Georges Abdallah faces decisive court session in Paris on Thursday

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Al Mayadeen
  • 18 Jun 2025 22:47
  • 2 Shares
4 Min Read

As French authorities weigh release conditions, pressure mounts from rights groups and Lebanon over the prolonged detention of Georges Abdallah.

Listen
  • x
  • Georges Abdallah faces decisive court session in Paris on Thursday
    Supporters of Lebanese Georges Ibrahim Abdallah hold up his portrait with Arabic reading: "I'm Georges Abdullah," during a sit-in near the US Embassy, Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, Dec. 28, 2012 (AP)

A pivotal court session will be held Thursday in Paris that could determine the fate of Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, the Lebanese activist and revolutionary who has spent over four decades imprisoned in France, 25 of those years described by legal experts and human rights advocates as unlawful detention.

Abdallah, 74, has long been eligible for release under French law. In November, an enforcement court ruled in favor of his release, concluding that he “no longer poses a serious threat if released.” However, the decision was frozen following an appeal by France’s national anti-terrorism prosecutor, delaying what supporters say is long-overdue justice.

The upcoming session follows a February 20 hearing that was postponed when the court ruled that Abdallah must first pay part of the compensation awarded to the families of the American and Israeli diplomats assassinated in Paris in 1982. Abdallah has consistently rejected this demand, insisting he had no involvement in the assassinations, a stance he and his defense team have maintained throughout his imprisonment.

Speaking to Al Mayadeen, Abdallah’s attorney, Jean-Louis Chalanset, expressed cautious optimism ahead of the hearing, noting that there has been “some progress” on the contested compensation issue. “There is a glimmer of hope,” he said.

According to Al Mayadeen, the defense informed the court that Abdallah currently has €16,000 in his bank account, without specifying the origin of the funds, potentially signaling a willingness to satisfy the court’s precondition, or at least challenge it on legal grounds.

Lebanon is ready to receive Abdallah

In a separate development, the French Interior Ministry has reportedly reached out to the Lebanese Embassy in Paris to coordinate the logistics of a potential release. According to diplomatic sources cited by Al Mayadeen, the embassy confirmed Lebanon’s readiness to receive Abdallah and cover his travel expenses if French authorities approve his release.

The case of Georges Abdallah remains one of the most politically charged detention cases in modern French history. Originally arrested in 1984 and sentenced to life in 1987, he has been eligible for parole since 1999. Despite repeated legal victories and the support of international human rights organizations, successive French governments, under pressure from Washington and "Tel Aviv", have refused to sign off on his release.

Related News

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

Georges Abdallah, from hometown, calls for Lebanese unity, resistance

As the court reconvenes this week, supporters, legal observers, and human rights advocates will be watching closely, viewing the hearing as a test of France’s judicial independence and its commitment to due process after decades of politically influenced delays.

Who is Georges Abdallah?

Abdallah, a former member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), has so far served 40 years in prison, which makes him the longest-held prisoner in Europe.

He founded the Marxist-Leninist Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Factions (LARF), which claimed responsibility for four operations in France during the 1980s.

The Lebanese revolutionary was accused of taking part in the assassination of US military attache Charles Robert Ray and Israeli diplomat Yacov Barsimantov in 1982 and was sentenced on these accusations.

Abdallah never responded to the list of accusations and considered that the French judicial system was "despicably" taking the resistance action out of context.

At his trial for the alleged killing of the diplomats, Abdallah was handed a life sentence, significantly harsher than the 10 years sought by prosecutors. His lawyer, Jacques Verges, called the sentence a "declaration of war."

Abdallah maintains that he is a "fighter" advocating for Palestinian rights, not a "criminal". 

He became eligible for parole in 1999, but all previous applications were denied, except in 2013, when his release was conditioned on expulsion from France.

However, then-Interior Minister Manuel Valls refused to implement the order, keeping Abdallah in prison.

  • Georges Abdallah
  • Israeli aggression
  • France
  • Lebanon

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
An explosion seen during an Iranian missile attack on Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

If Iran is attacked again, geography of response may change: IRGC spox

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS