The Lebanese government must urgently and immediately cease the forced deportation of Syrian refugees and adhere to its international legal obligations.

Since 2011, over one million Syrian refugees have sought refuge in Lebanon, making it the largest refugee-hosting country in the world by area. Despite this, Lebanon has not ratified the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees or the 1967 Additional Protocol. Lebanon’s asylum legislation lacks adequate procedural safeguards. Concerning asylum, Lebanon’s domestic legislation is highly politicized and does not sufficiently align with the principles of due process. Chapter Eight of the Foreigners Law of 1962 outlines the country’s sole political asylum law, spanning Articles 26 through 31. This legislation serves as the foundational legal framework for governing the rights and responsibilities of foreigners within Lebanon. Notably, Article 31 explicitly stipulates that “if a decision is made to deport a political refugee, they may not be returned to a territory where they fear for their life or freedom.” Regardless, Lebanon is bound by the customary international principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the forcible return of asylum seekers to countries where they face the threat of persecution. Lebanon is also bound to this principle because it is a party to the Convention against Torture, which also prohibits “refoulement” under Article 3. Lebanon has violated this principle by repeatedly failing to ensure that individuals at risk of torture are not returned or extradited.