The Syrian Embassy in Lebanon has expressed surprised at the Lebanese Interior Ministry's decision to ban displaced Syrians who return to Syria from coming back to Lebanon.
The decision, which was put into effect on Sunday, "goes against the simplest rules of human rights as it contravenes the work of the international commission on human rights, as the international aid is intended to reach the Syrians at home as well as those abroad," said Ambassador Ali Abdul-Karim in a statement to SANA.
He said there is a sense of annoyance at the Lebanese government having issued such a decision, which came in the wake of massive and surprising participation by Syrian nationals in Lebanon in the expatriate presidential vote that started last Wednesday and was extended for another day due to the high turnout.
Abdul-Karim said the Syrian participation in the presidential election, be it inside or outside Syria, "should make the Lebanese happy as it reflects a serious intent on their part to return back home."
The Ambassador said he hoped that the Lebanese government would reconsider this decision to obviate its negative impacts whether on the Syrian citizens themselves or on the brotherly relations binding the two neighboring countries.
The Lebanese Interior Ministry, whose portfolio is held by member of the anti-Syrian government Future Movement MP, Nihad al-Mashnouq, he said has taken an unjustifiable decision to prevent the displaced Syrians who would go to Syria from going back to Lebanon.
Translated and edited by The Syrian Observer
......
