Dr Geagea is the symbol of a community, of an era…whilst identifying with him, a lot of Lebanese discover themselves. With him they feel persecuted and oppressed.

One may believe that Dr. Samir Geagea, in solitary confinement for five years now, is alone in his jail; but this could be no further from the Truth. Many Lebanese are joining into his sacrifice and the LF membership has dramatically grown especially amongst the students and professionals. This became quite obvious during the Municipality elections when the LF won 85% of the seats along the whole area of Christian distribution in Lebanon. Dr. Geagea is indeed considered to be the symbol of his persecuted community who longs for Freedom and Dignity.

Lebanon will not regain its character until the day when true Justice is served. This would begin with the release of Dr. Geagea and all political prisoners. It would also entail Freedom of Political action for a just, democratic, free, sovereign, unified and modern Lebanon.

From within this context, The Maronite Patriarch and head of the Church, Cardinal Sfeir stated: "Human rights are not respected in Lebanon which is not a sovereign country but a democratic façade"… “I hope that the judicial bodies will abstain from condemning innocent people. The Christian opinion identifies with Dr. Samir Geagea because it is not him that is targeted but the Christian community as a whole".

The Apostolic Exhortation whose text has been published by Pope Jean Paul II at the time of his visit to Lebanon, asked for the "freeing of the political prisoners". This particular recommendation was developed during the preparatory phases of the Synod of the Bishops for Lebanon (meeting, documents, committees).  On 6 March, 1998, the Maronite Council of Bishops headed by Cardinal Sfeir presented to the prime minister Mr. Rafic Harriri a paper in which he asked: "Why have some Christian leaders been removed from the political process? Why was the Lebanese Forces party dissolved? Why is the leader of the Lebanese Forces incarcerated when the court cleared him of the church bombing? Why open files of war for some and ignore all the other files implicating others?"

In view of all the above it is imperative for all those concerned or able to achieve any progress to work towards applying the following recommendations:

1. After 20 years of War and 9 years of Persecution we ask you to help us secure the bare minimum of Human Rights and stop this terrible decline in the fundamental freedoms in Lebanon.
2. This process should start by exerting all the necessary pressures to free Dr. Geagea and all other political prisoners in Lebanon and work towards ensuring the participation of the political opposition in Lebanon’s political life.