French judiciary orders the release of George Ibrahim Abdallah after 40 years in prison
French authorities ordered the release of Lebanese activist George Ibrahim Abdallah, one of the longest-serving prisoners in French jails, on Thursday, following nearly four decades of incarceration.
The decision to release, which will take effect on July 25, comes after a closed session held by the Court of Appeal at the Palace of Justice in Paris, which Abdallah did not attend. The 74-year-old has been detained at Lannemezan prison in the Hautes-Pyrénées region of southwestern France.
Abdallah was convicted in 1987 for complicity in the assassination of two diplomats, one American and the other Israeli, during the 1980s. He is known for his strong support for the Palestinian cause.
Despite having completed his sentence years ago, his release had been delayed due to legal complexities and political pressure, making his case a subject of extensive debate both within France and beyond.
