DAILY SCOPE: Torture Practices Totally Rejected, Lebanese Abducted Soldiers Soon to Freedom

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NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

AS-SAFIR

‘Embarrassed' Rifi Accuses Hizbullah of Leaking Torture Tapes

Khamenei Fixates Red Lines: Military, Security Posts Will Not Be Inspected

AL-AKHBAR

Wikileaks Saudi Arabia: Plot to Topple Regime in 2012
"Israel" Threatens Druze with Punishment

AL-LIWAA

‘ISIL' Artistic Execution: Burning, Drowning and Exploding Heads

AL-JOMHOURIYA

‘ISIL' Receives Painful Hits in Syria's Raqqa

Lebanese newspapers on Wednesday were busy with the accusations made by the Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi about Hizbullah standing behind leaking the tapes which display the assault on Roumieh prisoners. The Lebanese army prisoners abducted by the terrorist groups in Syria were also a source of attention to the papers, with news on the finalization of a swap deal to release them. In addition, newspapers pointed out the "Israeli" arrests of Druze Syrians under claims of attacking an ambulance earlier on Monday.

Berri: Torture Practices Totally Rejected --- AS-SAFIR

Speaker Nabih Berri told As-Safir newspaper that "Such practices are totally rejected, if they take place in some countries, then Lebanon should not follow suit."
He stressed that there was no difference between one inmate and another and warned against sectarianism in Lebanese prisons. "All of them belong to Roumieh prison, whether they are convicted or accused, no matter what sect they belong to," the Speaker reportedly said.

Wondering why the video, which was recorded in April, was released now, Berri said that "Such an act has a purpose."
"The investigation into this case should take all the needed time and the culprits and those standing behind them should be punished," he added.

Berri has called for the punishment of the Roumieh prison guards and their backers for torturing Islamist inmates and stressed that the law should also be enforced on rioters.

Moreover, right after the uproar that followed the leaking of torture videos from Lebanon's notorious prison, with direct accusations to the Minister of Interior Nouhad al-Mashnouk standing behind the violations, the Justice Minister pointed fingers at Hizbullah, claiming they stand behind the leak, said As-Safir on Wednesday.

On Saturday, a video posted on Youtube showed internal security forces guards severely beating several prisoners with plastic rod. Among the prisoners beaten was Omar al-Atrash, an Arsal-based sheikh who was arrested months ago over links to terrorist attacks which rocked several areas across Lebanon. Al-Atrash has been accused of moving cars bombs which struck Hermel and Beirut's southern suburb [Dahiyeh].

Hizbullah on its part asserted that the accusations are baseless, void, and incredible, adding that it is shameful that the main suspect in this case evades his responsibilities before his conscience, law and public opinion, and throws accusations at others.

"Unfortunately, we live in a country where responsibilities stoop to the level that the Justice minister, who is responsible of ensuring that everyone abides by law, makes accusations without providing evidence," the party issued in a statement on Tuesday.

Kidnapped Soldiers Negotiations with Terrorists Ended --- AL-LIWAA

General Security Chief, Major General Abbas Ibrahim, asserted that the indirect negotiations with the terrorists aimed at releasing the kidnapped soldiers have ended, noting that the dossier did not witness any development, reported Al-Liwaa newspaper.

Ibrahim delivered a statement ahead of the meeting of the governmental crisis-cell formed to follow up on the kidnapped soldiers dossier, assuring that the release is soon to take place. It is worth noting that the al-Nusra Front and so-called ISIL terrorist groups deployed in the Arsal barren lands attacked the Lebanese northeastern town and kidnapped 29 Lebanese army soldiers and security personnel in August 2014. Four of them have been executed so far.

Christians Meet to Resolve Presidential Impasse --- AN-NAHAR

The presidential deadlock is expected to be resolved as the different Christian parties in Lebanon, including Bkirki and officials from the Free Patriotic Movement, the Lebanese Forces and the Marada Movement are to abridge their meetings this week.

An-Nahar daily said on Wednesday that Change and Reform bloc MP Ibrahim Kanaan is planning to hold separate talks with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, LF chief Samir Geagea and Marada leader MP Suleiman Franjieh.

Geagea's envoy Melhem Riachi is also planning to meet with FPM chief Michel Aoun, who heads the Change and Reform bloc, to discuss the second stage of the declaration of intent that was announced by the two political leaders during a meeting they held in Rabieh earlier this month, said An-Nahar.

According to the daily, a proposal made by Aoun to have a referendum on the choice of Christians regarding their presidential candidate is under study. Both Aoun and Geagea are candidates.

Source: al-Ahed News, Edited by website team