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The fall of the Assad regime in neighbouring Syria has highlighted the issue of Islamist Lebanese prisoners detained for supporting the rebels on charges critics say are politically motivated and reflect the double standards of the Lebanese security agencies, many of which were closely linked to Assad's security apparatus.

On Tuesday, Islamist detainees in Lebanon urged officials to address their grievances and close their cases completely and definitively in a statement read from inside Roumieh Central Prison.

They said that all their cases were linked to "the Syrian revolution from its inception, as it was their choice and path".

The statement said: "These cases and verdicts were a result of the Syrian situation, which has since changed. As those imprisoned in Syrian jails have been released, it is only fair that we also be freed from our imprisonment."

In support of these demands, families of the detainees gathered in a sit-in outside Roumieh Central Prison in Mount Lebanon.

The protest included scholars, human rights activists, and others, urging the caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati to expedite resolving the matter and release those who supported the Syrian revolution.

The National Moderation Bloc in parliament, which is made up of six MPs who were former supporters of Saad Hariri's Future Movement, also called on the Lebanese government and judiciary to work swiftly and earnestly to address the grievances faced by detainees accused of supporting the SyrianÌý revolution.

The bloc emphasised that it considers the matter a national and northern priority, aiming to lift the injustices and ensure fairness and justice in their cases, which, they argue, should conclude as the Assad regime has fallen.

The bloc announced its intention to propose a comprehensive general amnesty law to the parliament and to urge Speaker Nabih Berri to convene an urgent legislative session to include the proposal for a vote.

The bloc highlighted that, in light of recent changes such as the ceasefire agreements and the fall of the Assad regime, it is crucial to seize the moment to benefit Lebanon by ending the persistent political void, in collaboration with Lebanon's friends and the quintet committee, which is commendably making efforts in this regard.

MP Mohammed Suleiman of the bloc pointed out that "given Lebanon's dire circumstances, it is imperative to adopt a general amnesty law and a law to reduce prison sentences, particularly as thousands of deserving prisoners would benefit from such measures".

"This topic has been proposed multiple times in the past during parliamentary sessions without reaching an agreement. I will consult with colleagues in the National Moderation Bloc to demand the inclusion of the proposed laws for general amnesty and reduced prison terms in the agenda of the first legislative session convened by parliament," Suleiman said.

Human rights lawyer Mohammed Sablouh told °®Âþµº's Arabic language editionÌýAl-Araby Al-Jadeed that "the primary charge against most detainees accused of terrorism was their support for the Syrian revolution, especially when Hezbollah party was involved in the Syrian conflict on the side of the regime without facing trial. These individuals were denied fair trials."

Sablouh stressed that "given the current realities, the fall of the Assad regime, and the success of the Syrian revolution, Lebanese lawmakers must reconsider the injustices faced by detainees and prisoners, especially since their trials were not fair".

"While certain powerful factions in Lebanon participated in the Syrian conflict and committed crimes without accountability, supporters of the Syrian revolution were imprisoned on terrorism charges, endured torture, and faced severe injustices, some worse than what was witnessed in Saydnaya Prison," Sablouh added.

He argued that Lebanon must reconsider these cases and move towards transitional justice, acknowledging the fabricated charges, torture, and double standards.

This could involve passing a general amnesty law, which has been demanded for years but has faced sectarian hurdles in Lebanon, or enacting a law that provides justice to these individuals by addressing harsh penalties such as death sentences and life terms.

Sablouh also pointed out that "the current number of detainees in the Ministry of Interior's prisons, particularly Roumieh, does not exceed 400 Syrians, while the number of Lebanese detainees is about 500, and there are around 150 in the Ministry of Defence's prisons, most of whom are detained on similar charges without convictions."

He emphasised that "it is time to address their cases through transitional justice that alleviates harm to the wrongfully accused and reduces the prison sentence to six months for one time while reviewing life sentences and death penalties without conditions."

Sablouh added: "Although we opposed this demand earlier during the Syrian regime's presence, today, the convicted individuals could be handed over to the future Syrian state to serve their sentences there".

"This approach would also alleviate Lebanon's overcrowded prisons, enabling their reconstruction to align with their original purpose of reform and rehabilitation, which is currently lacking, especially amid the food, health, and other crises affecting Lebanese prisons."