BEIRUT: The case of dozens of Fatah al-Islam prisoners, who have been held for several years without trial, was referred Wednesday to Lebanon’s top court.

Acting State Prosecutor Samir Hammoud referred the Nahr al-Bared case – which included charges against 370 individuals for crimes and misdemeanors – to the Judicial Council, Lebanon’s highest court.

Judicial sources told The Daily Star Wednesday that the Judicial Council will soon issue subpoenas for fugitives and several prisoners released on bail.

After that, the Supreme Court will fix trial dates for the Islamist prisoners, who have been held for several years without trial over suspected links to Fatah al-Islam, which fought the Lebanese Army in the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared in 2007.

Following Fatah al-Islam’s defeat, security services sought the arrest of 570 people for involvement with the group. Many, but not all, were apprehended. Since 2007, 147 of the detainees have been released, leaving 98 in custody, according to judicial sources.

Seven of the Islamist detainees were released on bail in June of this year.