Inmate Revolt Sparked by Escape Attempt Results in Multiple Deaths at Zahle Central Prison
In a tragic turn of events at Zahle Central Prison, located in Eastern Lebanon, at least three inmates lost their lives while numerous others sustained injuries, following a fire incident amid a rebellion.
Security in front of Zahle Prison today-Image Source: AL-Arabiya
The uprising, according to a security official, was ignited post the discovery by prison guards of a breach in the prison wall, which had been secretly fashioned by inmates in preparation for a collective breakout. As efforts were underway to seal this breach, skirmishes broke out between the prison security forces and inmates. This chaotic confrontation led to inmates setting their cells on fire, culminating in the complete incineration of several cells and the demise of three inmates, primarily due to the blaze and resultant suffocation.
#لبنان–#بوراشد|#سجناء يضرمون النار داخل #سجن_زحلة pic.twitter.com/zt5gFYo87S
— بوراشد نيوز (@bourashed_news) October 6, 2023
بالفيديو: سجناء يُضرمون النّيران في سجن زحلة اللبناني احتجاجًا على الظّروف المعيشيّة#زحلة #لبنان #جسور pic.twitter.com/iANnrFOLAl
— Jusur (@JusurArabia) October 6, 2023
The National News Agency of Lebanon reported that members of the Civil Defense deployed hydraulic cutting machines to rescue inmates amidst the heavy presence of the army and other security forces, who established a security perimeter around the prison complex.
The fire, which rapidly spread to the upper floors, inflicted significant damage to the prison. The official mentioned, “Certain rooms, having been completely burned, are no longer suitable for housing inmates.”
Local media sources indicate that the prison houses over 600 inmates. Overcrowding remains a critical issue plaguing the 25 prisons in Lebanon, with the Ministry of Interior estimating an overwhelming capacity overrun of 323%. Approximately 8,000 inmates are held across these facilities, the majority of whom are yet to receive a final verdict.
Amid the repercussions of an economic crisis, which has rendered the state incapable of providing essential services and increasingly reliant on both local and international aid, the bureaucratic gridlock within the judicial system is contributing significantly to case backlogs and delays in issuing final judgments.
