Paoli Says Protests over Abdallah Deportation Delay 'Not Justified'

French Ambassador to Lebanon Patrice Paoli expressed understanding for the reaction of the supporters of Lebanese leftist militant George Abdallah, who has spent 28 years in jail, despite stressing that it is not “justified.”

Paoli called on protesters to wait for the sentence of the court on January 28 after holding talks with Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour at the Bustros Palace in Beirut.

The diplomat pointed out that the French judiciary is completely independent and issues verdicts away from any political pressure.

“The final decision to deport Abdallah is take by the Interior Minister,” Paoli said.

He stated that the protests are unnecessary as “no decision has been taken yet regarding the case.”

On Monday, scores of protesters demonstrated outside the French embassy in Beirut over a delay by Paris in releasing Abdallah, who was granted parole on a life sentence handed down in 1987.

Abdallah, 61, the former head of the Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Faction (LARF), was convicted for his part in the 1982 murders in Paris of U.S. military attache Charles Robert Ray and Israeli diplomat Yacov Barsimantov.

A French court granted Abdallah parole in November on condition he be deported but the interior ministry had yet to issue the deportation order. The court postponed its decision on his release until January 28.

Abdallah has been eligible for parole since 1999 but seven previous applications were all rejected.