Prisoners of the UN

15* This is exactly the perfect description we have as refugees living in Lebanon Prisoners of the UN. We live like prisoners even though some of us never entered a real prison in Lebanon; many refugees have experienced prisons in their countries or here in Lebanon. Those who haven’t been to prison here lived in big fear of prison all of the time, every day every minute. We have lived in cells of fear not only the fear of prison but also of deportation.

We have lived in complete isolation from our local community and international community. Exactly like prisoners, what are prisons used for if not to separate the prisoners from ordinary people! Many refugees must have felt that in the past 15 years. Take me for example, the police arrested me twice and I was jailed for two months and all that was because of the UNHCR! Therefore this subject will be my first campaign for the year 2005, I’m writing these words at 1/1/2005 and the hour now is 12:48 in Beirut, the first hour in the New Year.

Please read what amnesty spoke about that.

Return to point 15*