Human Rights Watch report the arrest of Dr Muhamed Mugraby, a lawyer and human rights activist. He was arrested on charges of “impersonating a lawyer”. In Lebanon, this is a criminal offence carrying a term of from 6 months to 3 years in prison. It is thought he is being held in prison either at the Ministry of Justice or the Palace of Justice. Virginia Sherry, associate director of Middle East and North Africa Division of Human Rights Watch said: “Lebanese authorities have harassed Dr. Mugraby for years, but his arrest today is simply outrageous. He has steadfastly refused to remain silent about Syria's repressive role in Lebanon and about corruption within the judiciary. This courageous man must be released immediately." The Beirut Bar Association has repeatedly attempted to prevent Dr. Mugraby from practicing as a lawyer in Lebanon. Human Rights Watch honored Dr. Muhamed Mugraby as a human rights defender in 1997. Dr. Mugraby holds degrees from the Lebanese University School of Law and Columbia University Law School in New York. He was an International Law Fellow at Columbia from 1963-1965 and then earned two masters degrees and a doctorate. He is a member of the International Bar Association and the International Association of Lawyers.

To read more on human rights issues in Lebanon, please see:
 http://www.hrw.org/mideast/lebanon.php