Georges Abdallah Must Be Free: Demonstrations, Calls to Action as world awaits February 20 court ruling

19 February 2025

Georges Abdallah, the Lebanese Arab struggler for Palestine imprisoned in France for the past 40 years, despite being eligible for release since 1999, was finally ordered released in November 2024 by a French court, to return to his homeland, Lebanon. However, French prosecutors immediately appealed the order for his liberation, which has delayed his release; notably, unlike earlier judicial orders for his release, this order is not contingent on political officials choosing to sign a deportation order.

Upon the appeal, the order for his release was suspended; however, the Court of Appeal is scheduled to render its verdict tomorrow — 20 February. Across France, throughout Europe and internationally, thousands are taking action under the slogan, “Georges Abdallah must be free!”

Actions and protests have been mobilized to call for Georges Abdallah’s immediate liberation, with posters and banners highlighting the case. In Paris, a massive banner was dropped linking the struggle to free Georges Abdallah with the liberation of Palestine.

On 13 February, student activists across Toulouse organized a day of mobilization for Georges Abdallah’s release, at the initiative of the Union Etudiante, including letter-writing, protests, and collective actions for Palestine, including a call to block twinning with Zionist universities, in particular the relationship between Sciences Po Toulouse and Ben-Gurion University.

This followed upon an 8 February national march in Paris called for by the Unitary Campaign for the Liberation of Georges Abdallah, in which thousands participated, with participants coming from dozens of cities across France for a unified demonstration raising its clear voice for the liberation of this Lebanese political prisoner for Palestine in French jails. Participants also raised slogans calling for the release of Christian Tein, a leader of the Kanaky movement imprisoned in France, and denouncing the dissolution proceedings against the Collectif Palestine Vaincra, the Toulouse-based Palestine solidarity organization known for its tireless campaign for Georges Abdallah’s liberation.

“We are here also to tell Darmanin, Retaillau, Macron and all the others that they can try to dissolve the Collectif Palestine Vaincra, they can prosecute hundreds of people for ‘apology for terrorism,’ they can repress us widely, they will not stop the inexorable solidarity with the resistance of the Palestinian people who are fighting for the liberation of Palestine, of all of Palestine, from the river to the sea! So today more than ever, let us not give up and affirm clearly, not only that Georges Abdallah will be freed on February 20 but also that Palestine will live, and above all, Palestine will win.” French interior minister Gérald Darmanin ordered the Collectif dissolved in 2022, but the implementation of this order was suspended as the appeal proceeded before the Council of State. Now, the Council of State is also expected to release its ruling on the dissolution of CPV on 20 February as well, making it a doubly significant date for the Palestinian cause in France.

Several French parliamentarians, including MEP Rima Hassan and member of the National Assembly Eric Coquerel, visited Georges Abdallah in Lannemezan prison amid the anticipation of the 20 February court ruling.

In addition, 11 Lebanese members of parliament — MPs Elias Jarada, Osama Saad, Abdul Rahman Al-Bizri, Hussein Al-Hajj Hassan, Ibrahim Al-Moussawi, Melhem Al-Hajjiri, Hassan Murad, Jimmy Jabbour, Asaad Dargham, Charbel Massad and Sajih Attieh — issued a letter urging the immediate return of Georges Abdallah to Lebanon, saying: “France, which raises the slogans of human rights and justice, is required today to prove its commitment to these principles by ending this injustice that has been ongoing for decades.”

This is not the first time that Georges Abdallah was ordered released by the French judiciary, only to have his liberation blocked by the political arms of the state; perhaps the best-known example is that of 2013, when Manuel Valls, then minister of the interior — also known for his criminal prosecutions of activists calling for the boycott of the Zionist regime — blocked his release. Multiple US officials have repeatedly also interfered in his case, from the original trial in 1986 to Secretaries of State Condoleeza Rice and Hillary Clinton intervening in attempts to block his freedom in succeeding appeals.

For the full story of Georges Abdallah, watch the film Fedayin, on his life and struggle:

There are demonstrations in many cities today, listed below, urging the release of Georges Abdallah. Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network joins with all of those urging his immediate liberation and calling for global actions to demand justice for this tireless struggler for Palestinian, Arab and human liberation.

The Unitary Campaign for the Liberation of Georges Abdallah has compiled at least 35 actions taking place today, 19 February, with one message: “Georges Abdallah Must Be Free!” Join an action near you, with details below.

In one of the egregious attempts of the French state to suppress support for Georges Abdallah, the demonstration in Paris this evening was banned by the prefecture on several ludicrous grounds, including that far-right fascists attacked Turkish and Kurdish activists and that the demonstration might be attacked by similar fascists. We note in this context that one of the grounds for the dissolution of the Collectif Palestine Vaincra is its support for Georges Abdallah; these incidents clearly indicate the French state’s willingness to use heavy repressive powers in order to keep one of the longest-held political prisoners in the world behind bars. While an urgent appeal has been filed, the organizations in Paris are urging all to attend tonight’s action in Aubervilliers.

AUBERVILLIERS:

Wednesday 19 February
7 pm (19h)
Place de la mairie, Aubervilliers