The Lebanese Center for Human Rights condemns Israel’s conduct in carrying out a media interview with a Lebanese war prisoner held in its custody and broadcasting this interview through the media, in clear violation of international humanitarian law, in particular the Third Geneva Convention of 1949 relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
Conducting and publishing an interview with a war prisoner by the detaining power constitutes a direct violation of Article 13 of the Third Geneva Convention, which requires the protection of prisoners of war from insults and public curiosity. It also breaches Article 14, which obliges respect for their human dignity at all times, as well as Article 17, which prohibits all forms of physical or moral coercion.
The Center stresses that any “consent” obtained from a war prisoner who is under the absolute authority of the detaining power has no legal validity, given the imbalance of power and the coercive circumstances in which the prisoner exists. Accordingly, such practices amount to humiliating and degrading treatment and may rise to the level of a war crime under international humanitarian law and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
The exploitation of war prisoners for media or propaganda purposes constitutes a systematic practice aimed at influencing public opinion and undermining the morale of affected communities. This conduct is legally prohibited and exposes the war prisoner to serious psychological and security risks, both during detention and after release.
Accordingly, the Lebanese Center for Human Rights calls for the following:
- The immediate cessation of these unlawful practices against war prisoners.
- Full respect by Israel for its obligations under the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law.
- The unimpeded ability of the International Committee of the Red Cross to carry out its mandate.
- Accountability for those responsible for these violations and the guarantee that they do not enjoy impunity.
The Center also emphasizes the necessity for the Lebanese state to take all required measures regarding the violations. It further stresses the importance of judicial and criminal documentation of violations committed against Lebanese nationals and the submission of these cases to the relevant international mechanisms.
Finally, the Center urges the public and the media to refrain from publishing or sharing the interview, as the dissemination of such material contributes to reinforcing the unlawful practices outlined above.
The Lebanese Center for Human Rights condemns Israel’s conduct in carrying out a media interview with a Lebanese war prisoner held in its custody and broadcasting this interview through the media, in clear violation of international humanitarian law, in particular the Third Geneva Convention of 1949 relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
Conducting and publishing an interview with a war prisoner by the detaining power constitutes a direct violation of Article 13 of the Third Geneva Convention, which requires the protection of prisoners of war from insults and public curiosity. It also breaches Article 14, which obliges respect for their human dignity at all times, as well as Article 17, which prohibits all forms of physical or moral coercion.
The Center stresses that any “consent” obtained from a war prisoner who is under the absolute authority of the detaining power has no legal validity, given the imbalance of power and the coercive circumstances in which the prisoner exists. Accordingly, such practices amount to humiliating and degrading treatment and may rise to the level of a war crime under international humanitarian law and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
The exploitation of war prisoners for media or propaganda purposes constitutes a systematic practice aimed at influencing public opinion and undermining the morale of affected communities. This conduct is legally prohibited and exposes the war prisoner to serious psychological and security risks, both during detention and after release.
Accordingly, the Lebanese Center for Human Rights calls for the following:
- The immediate cessation of these unlawful practices against war prisoners.
- Full respect by Israel for its obligations under the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law.
- The unimpeded ability of the International Committee of the Red Cross to carry out its mandate.
- Accountability for those responsible for these violations and the guarantee that they do not enjoy impunity.
The Center also emphasizes the necessity for the Lebanese state to take all required measures regarding the violations. It further stresses the importance of judicial and criminal documentation of violations committed against Lebanese nationals and the submission of these cases to the relevant international mechanisms.
Finally, the Center urges the public and the media to refrain from publishing or sharing the interview, as the dissemination of such material contributes to reinforcing the unlawful practices outlined above.
