A French court on Thursday ordered the release of Lebanese activist Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, who has served 40 years in prison for attacks on American and Israeli diplomats in France.
The former head of the Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Brigade (LARB) was sentenced to life in 1987 for his role in the 1982 murders in Paris of U.S. military attache Charles Ray and Israeli diplomat Yacov Barsimantov, and the attempted murder of U.S. Consul General Robert Homme in Strasbourg in 1984.
The Paris Appeals Court approved Abdallah’s release on 25 July on the condition that he leaves France, a judicial source said. A second source familiar with the case confirmed he would be deported to Lebanon.
In a February hearing, the Paris court said Abdallah should make an effort to compensate the families of his victims, according to a person familiar with the matter.
His lawyer said in June that about €16,000 ($18,546) had been deposited into his account, but the U.S. Department of Justice and France’s general prosecutor argued the sum was insufficient and did not come from Abdallah himself.
A source familiar with the case said on Thursday that Abdallah will not be required to pay compensation to the victims.
It was not immediately clear whether further appeals could be filed.
The U.S. Department of Justice and France's general prosecutor have for years vigorously opposed his release, and eight previous release requests had been rejected.
Neither Abdallah's lawyer nor the Lebanese and U.S. embassies were immediately available for comment.
Abdallah, 74, has remained a staunch defender of the Palestinian cause.
The Paris court described Abdallah’s conduct in prison as exemplary and said in November that he posed “no serious risk of committing further terrorist acts.”
However, the U.S. Department of Justice has asserted that his release would pose a threat to the safety of U.S. diplomats.
Washington has opposed Abdallah’s release, pointing to his past comments about returning to his hometown of Qobayyat near the Lebanese-Syrian border, given the recent clashes between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Abdallah, the former head of the Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Brigade (LARB), was sentenced to life in 1987 for his role in the 1982 murders of U.S. military attaché Charles Ray and Israeli diplomat Yacov Barsimantov in Paris.
He was also convicted of the attempted murder of U.S. Consul General Robert Homme in Strasbourg in 1984.
Dmitry Medvedev said European countries have failed to defeat Russia in Ukraine and have instead inflicted serious economic damage on themselves, as h...
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has begun negotiations with European leaders over Greenland and that an agreement ...
A freight train carrying with Russian grain has departed from Bilajari station in Azerbaijan, heading to Armenia via transit routes through Georgia....
Israel has reopened Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt in what Israeli media described as a “pilot operation,” marking the first opening of...
Iran will treat the armies of European Union member states as “terrorist groups” in retaliation for the EU’s decision to list Iran’s Islamic R...
Dmitry Medvedev said European countries have failed to defeat Russia in Ukraine and have instead inflicted serious economic damage on themselves, as he criticised EU policy, praised Donald Trump as a leader who seeks peace, and said Russia would “soon” achieve military victory in the war.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has begun negotiations with European leaders over Greenland and that an agreement is already taking shape.
A freight train carrying with Russian grain has departed from Bilajari station in Azerbaijan, heading to Armenia via transit routes through Georgia.
Israel has reopened Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt in what Israeli media described as a “pilot operation,” marking the first opening of the crossing in two years.
Catherine O’Hara, the celebrated Canadian actress and comedy legend, has died at the age of 71, her publicist confirmed on Friday. She passed away at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness.
Newly released Epstein files name French President Emmanuel Macron among figures referenced in millions of disclosed documents.
The United Nations faces the risk of “imminent financial collapse” because of unpaid contributions, including substantial arrears from the United States, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned.
Vladimir Putin said Russia earned more than $15 billion from defence exports in 2025 and fulfilled all military-technical contracts despite what he described as growing pressure from Western countries.
Explosions shook parts of southern Lebanon on Friday night as Israeli strikes rippled across the Zahrani district, with the blasts travelling toward the coastal city of Sidon.
Dmitry Medvedev said European countries have failed to defeat Russia in Ukraine and have instead inflicted serious economic damage on themselves, as he criticised EU policy, praised Donald Trump as a leader who seeks peace, and said Russia would “soon” achieve military victory in the war.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has begun negotiations with European leaders over Greenland and that an agreement is already taking shape.
Israel has reopened Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt in what Israeli media described as a “pilot operation,” marking the first opening of the crossing in two years.
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu has arrived in China for an official visit, where he is due to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to discuss international and regional security issues, Russian state media reported on Sunday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington may be able to reach a deal with Cuba, days after he threatened tariffs on any country supplying the island with oil.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment