The big picture:
Lebanon and Syria signed a judicial agreement Friday allowing the transfer of convicted prisoners to their country of nationality, marking the most concrete legal step between the two states since the post-Assad transition in Damascus.
The agreement was signed at the Grand Serail in the presence of Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar al‑Wais, Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, and Lebanese Justice Minister Adel Nassar.
Why it matters:
- The deal covers more than 300 Syrian prisoners convicted in Lebanese courts and allows them to complete their sentences in Syria.
- It represents the first structured legal framework addressing one of the most sensitive files in Lebanese-Syrian relations.
- Officials framed the agreement as a sovereignty-based, rule-of-law mechanism rather than a political concession.
What the agreement does — and doesn’t:
- Applies only to convicted Syrian prisoners with final judicial rulings.
- Does not include detainees awaiting trial.
- Does not apply to non-Syrian prisoners, including Lebanese nationals.
Lebanese officials said implementation will begin Saturday morning.
What they’re saying:
Tarek Mitri said the agreement follows established international norms governing prisoner transfers between sovereign states.
“This is a standard agreement between two sovereign countries,” he said, adding that it allows prisoners to complete their sentences in their home country.
Mazhar al-Wais described the agreement as a “step toward justice” despite the complexity of the issue, emphasizing that it was driven by clear political will on both sides. He said months of coordination and multiple meetings paved the way for the deal.
Al-Wais also confirmed that a parallel track is being prepared to address detainees not covered by the agreement, including those held without final verdicts, noting that the process would take longer due to legal procedures.
The human dimension:
Officials on both sides acknowledged that the issue extends beyond legal considerations to include humanitarian and rights-based concerns, particularly for prisoners who have spent long years in detention.
Mitri stressed that while the prisoner file was prioritized due to its sensitivity and public impact, it does not define the entirety of Lebanese-Syrian relations.
What’s next:
- A separate agreement addressing detainees awaiting trial is expected at a later stage.
- Syrian officials said the deal could positively affect discussions over Lebanese prisoners in Syria, strictly within legal and sovereign frameworks.
- Both sides emphasized that the agreement is not transactional, but part of a broader effort to establish a balanced relationship based on mutual respect.
