BEIRUT: The military tribunal recommended Thursday the release of Maher Meqdad who is in jail on charges of forming an armed organization aimed at carrying out terrorist acts and kidnapping.

The court, presided over by Judge Khalil Ibrahim, agreed to release Meqdad on a LL5 million bail to allow him to attend his mother’s funeral, judicial sources told The Daily Star.

The request was turned down by Military Prosecutor Saqr Saqr, the sources added.

However, the military appeals court will look into the request Friday and decide whether to free Meqdad or keep him behind bars.

Eight members of the Meqdad clan, including Maher, and two Syrian nationals were arrested in separate house raids by the Lebanese Army in September and October last year.

The Meqdad’s so-called “military wing” claimed responsibility for kidnapping over 20 Syrians and a Turkish businessman on Aug. 15 in retaliation for the abduction of kinsman Hassan Meqdad by the Free Syrian Army in Syria days earlier.

In a show of force on the day of the kidnappings, members of the clan appeared on television news channels heavily armed.

The Meqdads eventually released all of their captives under pressure from the Lebanese Army.