George Abdallah Wins His Freedom

After more than 40 years in French colonial prison, Lebanese communist and struggler Georges Ibrahim Abdallah is set to be released next week on July 25. Abdallah is the longest serving political prisoner in Europe, whose release was ordered as early as 2003 but blocked repeatedly by the French government at the request of the US State Department. A symbol of Lebanese, Palestinian and Arab resistance against Zionism and imperialism, his liberation is not only a victory for his family and the tireless solidarity movement in France and beyond, but also for every prisoner in Zionist and imperialist jails.

At the age of 27, Georges Abdallah joined the Palestinian resistance under the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and subsequently formed the communist guerilla organisation Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Forces (LARF) to fight the Zionist occupation of Lebanon. Even after his arrest, he has never wavered on the Palestinian cause and has unconditionally continued from his cell to advocate for the armed struggle and the liberation of the prisoners.

Today, after decades of mobilisation and struggle, Georges Abdallah joins the more than 10,000 Palestinian prisoners awaiting liberation at the hands of the resistance. The prisoners – from Palestine to France and North America – serve as a vanguard, political compass and leadership in the struggle against Zionism, colonialism and imperialism. Their cause is that of humanity, independence and freedom. It is the duty of every anti-imperialist not only to advocate and struggle for the liberation of the prisoners but also to organise and sacrifice as Georges Abdallah and his thousands of imprisoned Palestinian, Lebanese, Arab and internationalist comrades have. 

Tariq el-Tahrir Youth and Student Network salutes the comrade Abdallah on his liberation and imminent return to Lebanon and reunification with his comrades, friends and family. His principled commitment to freedom and resistance is an example to strive for until the complete dismantlement of occupation and imperialism.

Glory to the martyrs

Freedom to the prisoners

Long live Georges Abdallah