Philanthropists help free more than 40 inmates in north Lebanon

Forty-four inmates who had served their sentences but were unable to pay fines they owed were released from prisons in north Lebanon Wednesday, after a growing group of donors paid their tabs. The group, known as Together for Life, which includes businessmen Amal Abu Zeid and Michel Daher, Al-Mawarid Bank, the Makdessi Foundation, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel and his adviser Talal Makdessi, has already freed 41 inmates who had finished their sentences but were still imprisoned for nonpayment of fines. Other donors include Leila Karami and Walid Suleiman. Talal Makdessi, Together for Life’s head, visited prisons from which people were freed: Nine were released from Amioun in Koura, eight from Zghorta, 12 from Tripoli’s Qibbeh prison, and 15 from Akkar’s Halba prison. Many inmates receive both a custodial sentence and a fine, and those who cannot afford to pay the fines often remain in custody after they have finished their time. “What’s taking place today is an embodiment of the humanitarian initiative that Interior Minister Marwan Charbel began,” Makdessi said Wednesday. “Charbel launched the project to help prisoners who are unable to pay off their fines and fees after they serve their sentences. To start it off the minister donated his salary to the fund,” Makdessi said. He said that in addition to its humanitarian aims, the initiative aims to alleviate prison overcrowding as well as decrease the state’s financial burden. Prison overcrowding has been a major cause of concern in the country; crowding and poor conditions led to four days of deadly riots and clashes at Roumieh prison nearly a year ago. “When Charbel launched this initiative, some saw it as a political ploy for positive media coverage, but those people don’t know the minister,” Makdessi said. Makdessi said that one inmate in a northern prison, Yahya Khawli, heard of the initiative but found it hard to believe. He borrowed the LL6 million he owed the state, and was released Tuesday, one day before the charity was able to provide him relief. The fund has already paid more than LL200 million, and Makdessi said more funds were needed because of the large number of inmates in need of financial assistance. But the group is facing another hurdle, Makdessi told The Daily Star, saying it had discovered that Liban Post was charging the foundation 12 percent for every dollar it pays. He called this “a real problem for the initiative,” as all payments to authorities must be transferred through Liban Post. “We would love Liban Post to contribute to this initiative as a sign of good will,” he said. Together for Life has also begun refurbishing the courtyard at Roumieh prison to turn it into a basketball court and football field, and will revamp its sports room. Next week, Makdessi said he would visit and help release prisoners in the south and Mount Lebanon. “I stress that we will not leave one inmate in jail because of his or her inability to pay fees,” he said.