New accusations against Lebanon’s Hezbollah of running secret Beirut prisons

Hussein Mazloum, son of a founder of Lebanon’s Hezbollah, has accused the pro-Iranian militia of running systematic operations of torture and kidnapping in Dahya, its stronghold suburb in the capital Beirut.

Mazloum accused the militia of building a number of secret detention centers, away from the Lebanese government’s watch, saying that he was detained in one of these centers for nine months.

Mazloum, also known as Hajj Wala, leaked pictures showing what he alleged were entrances to the secret Hezbollah prisons, saying he was subjected to the "worst forms of torture and humiliation" during his time there.

According to Mazloum, the most prominent of Hezbollah’s secret detention centers is the central prison in Haret Hreik behind the Bahman hospital (Iranian Hospital), as well as the Bir al-Abd prison behind the Islamic Cooperation Center.

Hezbollah also runs another investigation center near Qaim compound.

According to Mazloum's claims, the most frightening prison is the Mujtaba compound prison behind Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV channel headquarters.

Mazloum added that prisoners abducted by Hezbollah are held in a solitary confinement cell of no wider than two meters, and are prevented from seeing the sun for the duration of their detention period; subjected to various forms of physical and psychological torture.

Mazloum said he will seek justice in front the Lebanese judiciary system against the pro-Iranian militia.

If this case goes to court against Hezbollah, it will not be a precedent.

In 2011, the Lebanese Center for Human Rights published a report accusing Hezbollah of running secret prisons inside Beirut, but it is widely believed that Hezbollah's influence in the country led to the case being neglected.