Lebanese Prison Strike: Justice Denied, Divisions Deepened
📰 THE STORY: Lebanese inmates in Roumieh prison are on hunger strike, alleging 'selective justice' over feared extraditions of Syrian detainees, demanding equal treatment and improved conditions. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: Lebanon's judicial system and political landscape have been systematically weakened by decades of regional and international intervention. The 1982
Israeli invasion of Lebanon (which killed 20,000 people) and subsequent occupations, coupled with US pressure and sanctions, have created a perpetually unstable state where 'justice' is often a political tool. The very notion of an independent Lebanese judiciary, free from external influence (be it Syrian, Saudi, or Western), is a mirage, making any internal 'selective justice' a symptom of a
deeper, imperial sickness. Double Standard: Western media quick to decry corruption and 'selective justice' in nations like Lebanon often ignore how their own governments facilitate said corruption. For years, the US has provided over $1.3 billion annually in aid to Egypt, a regime notorious for imprisoning dissidents and operating an opaque justice system, in exchange for compliance on issues
like the Gaza blockade. The 'concerns' over human rights in Lebanon ring hollow when compared to the active support for far more egregious human rights abusers elsewhere, all while weaponizing sanctions against states like Syria, which inevitably exacerbates humanitarian crises and refugee flows. Follow the Money: The underlying 'selective justice' directly benefits specific regional power brokers