BEIRUT: More than 100 people demonstrated Friday outside the U.S. embassy in Awkar against the ongoing imprisonment by Czech authorities of a Lebanese citizen who could be extradited to the United States.
Relatives and friends of Ali Fayad, from the southern town Ansar who was arrested at a Prague hotel in April last year over suspicion of terrorism and drug trafficking, brandished placards urging justice.
“Give us your proof if you are truthful,” one sign read.
The demonstrators said the rally outside the U.S. embassy aimed at protesting Washington’s intervention to keep Fayad in custody in Prague over fabricated accusations, including planning to assassinate Americans.
From Awkar, northeast of Beirut, the protesters rode buses to the Czech Embassy in Baabda, east of Beirut, where they chanted slogans calling for Fayad’s release.
According to Czech media, Fayad was arrested in Prague after the United States accused him of collaborating with terrorists. Faouzi Jaber, from the Ivory Coast, and Khaled Marabi, a dual Lebanese- Cote d'Ivoire citizen, were detained from the same hotel.
In December, Czech state attorney Renata Rychnovska told the Prague Municipal Court that she saw nothing that would prevent the three men from being extradited to the U.S., which suspects them of selling arms and drugs to terrorists.
She said it was up to the Czech justice minister to decide whether to extradite Fayad and the other two to the U.S.
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