Still, a U.N. report revealed in 2014 that systematic torture prevails in the country. Furthermore, and according to Article 401 of the Lebanese penal code, torture in Lebanon is only a petty crime, punishable by up to three years in jail.
Over the last few years a group of stakeholders – state and nonstate actors – led by MP Ghassan Moukheiber, has drafted, revised and discussed a bill that would modify the definition and prosecution of torture, thereby aligning Lebanese law with international definitions set out by the UNCAT.
Moukheiber underscored that the current law still makes torture illegal and that all relevant stakeholders were consulted in the process of modifying the law.
The bill has been submitted to Parliament, and the relevant committees – namely the Human Rights and Justice committees – have approved it.
"The general mentality is that if he didn't do it, he would not have confessed," Asmar said. An estimated 60 percent of all detainees face torture, he added.
Ghali also raised the issue of proper care for psychological torture, which requires experts and time to evaluate and determine. He said that the international framework covers the issue well, but there has to be the political will to address all aspects of torture.
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