BEIRUT (Dispatches) – Lebanon’s military court has handed down prison sentences to three people for dealing with the Zionist regime.
The official Lebanese News Agency (LNA) reported that the first ruling was a ten-year jail term against Jamal Ahmed Rifi, a doctor residing in Australia and brother of former Lebanese justice minister Ashraf Rifi. The sentence was issued in absentia.
The second was five years in jail handed to Amin Muhammad Maraai Baydoun. Beydoun was arrested by the Lebanese authorities at Beirut airport.
The third verdict, the agency noted, was a two-year term against Mark Charbel Tanios.
These rulings are subject to appeal before the military court of cassation.
Last December, Lebanese political opponent Kinda el-Khatib was sentenced to three years in prison on charges of working with the Zionist regime.
Military Investigative Judge Najat Abu Shakra indicted Khatib at the time.
She was referred to a military court and accused of “working with the Israeli enemy”, “entering occupied Palestinian territory,” and “working with Israeli spies and operatives.” Khatib was arrested in June last year.
Beirut-based al-Akhbar daily reported that Khatib was also accused of facilitating an interview between an Israeli TV channel and Charbel Hage, a Lebanese government opponent based in the United States.
She also stood accused of providing security information about Lebanon to a spy agent whom she met near the Dead Sea, The Daily Star reported.