French court orders release of Georges Abdallah after 40 years in prison

Thursday 17 July 2025 - 16:41

After more than four decades behind bars, Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, one of France’s longest-held prisoners, has been granted release by the Paris Court of Appeals’ enforcement chamber. The decision, issued on July 17, 2025, marks a significant turn in a politically and diplomatically sensitive case.

Abdallah, a 73-year-old Lebanese activist, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1987 for his alleged involvement in the killings of U.S. military attaché Charles Robert Ray and Israeli diplomat Yacov Barsimantov in Paris in 1982. He was believed to be a leader of the Lebanese Revolutionary Armed Factions (FARL), a Marxist and pro-Palestinian group.

Initially arrested in Lyon in 1984 and charged with possession of illegal weapons and false documents, Abdallah was later linked to the attacks during a period of heightened tension and terrorist threats in France. Despite the prosecution initially seeking a 10-year sentence, he received life imprisonment in a highly charged political climate.

Though eligible for parole since 1999, Abdallah faced numerous legal and political hurdles. His only conditional release approval came in 2013, contingent on his deportation to Lebanon — a process blocked by the French government at the time.

In November 2024, a French court deemed his continued detention “disproportionate,” opening the door to his release. However, strong opposition from the French anti-terror prosecutor and the United States delayed the decision.

Throughout the years, Abdallah has become a symbol for left-wing and pro-Palestinian activists. Demonstrations have been held regularly outside the Lannemezan prison, where he was detained. Among his political supporters is MP Éric Coquerel, who met with Abdallah earlier this year.

Now, following a decade-long legal battle and shifting judicial assessments, Abdallah is set to be expelled to Lebanon — ending a case that has stirred controversy across political and diplomatic lines.