Georges Abdallah, a symbol of Lebanese resistance, will be released after spending 41 years behind bars in French prisons following decades of US political obstruction.

The French judiciary has officially approved the release of Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, the Lebanese activist and revolutionary who has spent over four decades imprisoned in France, according to statements made Thursday by his legal team.

Abdallah, a prominent figure in leftist resistance circles and a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause, is set to be released on July 25, his defense lawyer told Al Mayadeen. The decision marks the end of a decades-long legal and political battle over his continued imprisonment.

Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in France reported that Georges Abdallah’s lawyer has officially informed him of the court’s decision granting his release.

Political interference, particularly US, delayed proceedings

Speaking to Al Mayadeen, Abdallah’s lawyer confirmed that political interference, particularly from the United States, had delayed the legal proceedings that should have led to his release much earlier.

“The United States exerted pressure to obstruct the legal process leading to his release,” he stated, framing the case as a political decision rather than a judicial one. The lawyer also conveyed his congratulations to Abdallah’s family. 

Abdallah has refused to pay any form of compensation as a condition of his release, reinforcing his longstanding stance against conceding to demands he considers politically motivated.

The Lebanese embassy in Paris is set to handle the official procedures to facilitate the transfer of Georges Ibrahim Abdallah to the airport ahead of his return to Lebanon, according to Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in the French capital.

Abdallah to return to Beirut after release