9 November 2026
The Access Center for Human Rights (ACHR) has released the third edition of its monthly report on measures and violations against Syrian refugees in Lebanon, documenting 18 incidents in October 2026, compared with 11 in September, representing an increase of seven incidents.
The report highlights a significant rise in arrests and raids, documenting 12 incidents involving a reported total of 839 Syrians, compared with seven incidents involving 242 people in the previous month. ACHR clarified that the figure of 839 represents the sum of arrests reported in Lebanese Army statements and does not necessarily correspond to 839 distinct individuals, as some people may have been counted more than once. It also excludes arrests for which no figures were announced.
The report draws on nine news items and information sources, including two field sources and seven open sources, collectively covering 18 incidents, as some items addressed multiple incidents.
Same-Day Deportations Raise Concerns Over Non-Refoulement
ACHR documented one collective or forced deportation incident during October, compared with eight incidents involving 264 people in September. No consolidated figure was available for the number of individuals deported in October.
According to field information, Syrians detained during the month were deported to Syria on the same day as their arrest through the Qaa–Jousieh (Sha’ra), Wadi Khaled, or Masnaa border crossings.
ACHR warned that same-day deportations raise concerns about potential violations of the principle of non-refoulement, enshrined in Article 3 of the Convention against Torture and Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
The Center stressed that such procedures may effectively prevent individual assessments of the risks associated with return, opportunities to challenge deportation decisions, access to legal counsel, and communication with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Widespread Arrests Across Several Lebanese Regions
According to the report, the Lebanese Army issued 12 statements during October announcing the detention of a reported total of 839 Syrians across the Bekaa, Akkar, Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and northern Lebanon.
The arrests included individuals accused of entering Lebanon irregularly or lacking valid legal documentation, alongside arrests carried out during security-related raids.
Among the most significant figures announced were the detention of 186 Syrians on 20 October and 139 Syrians at the northern border on 30 October.
The report also documented information concerning the detention of Syrian men from their workplaces and residences in Beirut’s Hamra district on 2 October because they lacked legal documentation. The number of detainees was not specified.
On 5 October, Lebanese General Security announced the detention of a group of Syrians preparing to leave Lebanon irregularly by sea towards Cyprus, after reportedly entering through Wadi Khaled with the assistance of smugglers. No number was provided.
ACHR emphasised that detention decisions must be based on individual assessments and subject to judicial oversight. It warned that detention solely on the grounds of lacking legal residency documentation may constitute arbitrary detention under Article 9 of the ICCPR.
The Center also recalled that decisions concerning the residency status and removal of foreign nationals fall within the legal competence of General Security under Lebanon’s 1962 law.
Return Programmes and Residency Regularisation Measures
The report examined the implementation of the twentieth, twenty-first, twenty-second, and twenty-third phases of the return plan announced by Lebanese General Security and UNHCR between 1 and 28 October, in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration, the Lebanese Red Cross, and humanitarian organisations.
Departures took place from locations in Beirut and Tripoli, with individuals crossing into Syria through the Masnaa border crossing.
ACHR stressed that return can only be considered voluntary when it results from a free and informed decision, without pressure or coercion, based on adequate information about conditions in the country of origin and subject to independent monitoring.
The Center noted that the broader climate of arrests and deportations raises questions about whether these conditions are being met.
Regarding residency and employment procedures, the report included an individual testimony indicating that a Syrian refugee had been asked to close his UNHCR file as part of residency renewal procedures at General Security.
ACHR warned that such a requirement, if confirmed, could undermine the right to seek international protection and weaken safeguards against refoulement.
At the same time, the Center welcomed the extension of the deadline for regularising the status of foreign workers until 31 December 2026 and the corresponding deadline for Syrian workers until 29 January 2027, while emphasising that procedures must remain accessible and affordable.
Prison Protests and Reported Returns to Syria
The report documented media accounts of strikes and protests at Roumieh Prison and several other Lebanese prisons on 6 and 20 October, involving Syrian prisoners protesting delays in implementing amnesty law procedures.
Media reports also indicated deteriorating health conditions among some prisoners, including critical cases.
The report further addressed statements made by Lebanese Minister of Social Affairs Hanin al-Sayed during a press conference in Damascus on 19 October, in which she stated that approximately 700,000 Syrians had returned from Lebanon to Syria, citing UNHCR figures up to the end of September 2026.
ACHR called for transparency regarding the methodology used to calculate return figures and for a clear distinction between registered voluntary returns and other forms of departure.
The Center cautioned that departure figures alone cannot establish whether conditions for safe and dignified return have been met.
Incitement and Hostile Rhetoric Against Syrian Refugees
The report documented one incident categorised under incitement and mobilisation campaigns against refugees, following the discovery of the body of Father Samir Daou in Ain Jrain, Jbeil District.
Media reports circulated allegations concerning a Syrian worker who had been employed by the priest during the olive harvest.
Following the incident, Lebanese singer Elissa called on the social media platform X for an acceleration of Syrian refugees’ return, linking the issue to repeated murders and thefts.
Her remarks prompted criticism from social media users who argued that they generalised responsibility to Syrian refugees before investigations had concluded and individual responsibility had been established.
ACHR clarified that it did not conclude that the statements met the legal threshold for prohibited incitement under Article 20(2) of the ICCPR. Nevertheless, the Center warned that generalising rhetoric could contribute to an increasingly hostile environment for refugees, while reaffirming the importance of protecting freedom of expression.
Recommendations to Strengthen Legal Protection and Safeguard Voluntary Return
In its concluding recommendations, ACHR called on the Lebanese authorities to suspend collective and summary deportations conducted without procedural safeguards and to ensure that any removal decision is preceded by an individual assessment of the risk of refoulement.
The Center stressed that deportation decisions must be issued in writing by the legally competent authority and remain subject to judicial challenge.
ACHR also called for stronger safeguards for detainees, including notification of the reasons for arrest, access to legal counsel, communication with family members, and appearance before judicial authorities within the legally prescribed time limits. Detention for residency violations should be used only as a last resort and for the shortest possible period.
The Center further recommended granting UNHCR access to detainees and detention facilities, publishing accurate and regular data on arrests and deportations and their legal grounds, and investigating summary deportations carried out without adequate safeguards.
Additional recommendations included facilitating affordable residency and employment regularisation without requiring individuals to relinquish international protection, ensuring that returns to Syria are voluntary, safe and dignified, with independent monitoring and the right to withdraw, and addressing rhetoric that collectively blames refugees or incites hatred.
ACHR reiterates that the findings are based on field monitoring, follow-up of individual and collective cases, official statements, media reports, and open sources. The inclusion of an incident does not constitute a final legal determination of responsibility, but rather reflects the information available during the reporting period.