The Unified Campaign for the Liberation of Georges Abdallah organized a rally in Paris, France, on Saturday, 27 March demanding freedom for Abdallah, jailed for over 36 years in French prisons. The demonstration came one week after Georges Abdallah received a visit in Lannemezan prison from the Lebanese Ambassador to France, this time accompanied by the Lebanese Minister of Justice.
At the time, the Unified Campaign welcomed this meeting but denounced the silence of the French authorities, emphasizing that France continues to imprison this Arab struggler for Palestine as he nears his 70th birthday.
Many collectives and campaigns working for Abdallah’s liberation emphasized that French officials must immediately sign the order for his deportation necessary for his release and return to Lebanon. While French courts authorized his release in 2012, the Interior Minister at the time, Manuel Valls, refused to sign the deportation order necessary, ensuring that Georges Abdallah has remained imprisoned as Europe’s longest-held political prisoner.
Over 50 activists joined the Paris demonstration organized by the Unified Campaign, gathering in front of the French Interior Ministry to demand Georges Abdallah’s immediate release. This crowd gathered despite the fact that multiple demonstrations for just causes were scheduled on the same date in Paris. In a statement, the Campaign thanked participating organizations, including ANC, CAPJPO-EuroPalestine, DIP, Partizan, Rete Comunisti, AFPS Paris Sud and Collectif Ni guerre ni état de guerre.
Throughout the protest, demonstrators chanted, many of their slogans addressing French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin: “Darmanin, we will not give up!” “Darmanin, Darmanin, you must sign!” “Down with, down with state vengeance!” “Life imprisonment is barbarism!” “37 years in prison is a lifetime of struggle! Free Georges Abdallah!”
