French Court Refuses Release of Georges Abdullah

Supporters of a pro-Palestinian Lebanese militant, Georges Ibrahim Abdallah who has spent 30 years in French jail, were informed on Wednesday of a French court's decision on rejecting the ninth demand of his conditioned release.

They were notified at 3:45 pm during their sit-in in front of the French Embassy in Lebanon.

The supporters announced their sit-in in front of the U.S. Embassy in Awkar next Sunday, promising to escalate.

Last year, a French court annulled a parole granted to Abdallah, after postponing its final decision several times.

Abdallah has been eligible for parole since 1999, but seven previous applications were all rejected.

On January 28, U.S. congresswoman Grace Meng had urged France not to release Abdallah.

"We cannot stand idly by while an ally frees the murderer of another American in diplomatic service," said Meng, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Meng said the life sentence was "necessary."

"If released to Lebanon, Abdallah could very well resume his acts of terror, and target citizens of France, the United States, and other allied nations. We must stand firm and united against the threat of terrorism. Abdullah must remain locked-up for the rest of his life," she said.

Z.A.