After more than four decades behind bars, **Georges Ibrahim Abdallah** is set to be released by French authorities today, **July 17, 2025**, igniting global debate about one of the most controversial political figures of the late 20th century.
While **supporters hail him as a symbol of anti-colonial resistance**, critics—including Western governments—see him as a convicted terrorist responsible for the assassination of diplomats during the Cold War era.
From Northern Lebanon to Frence Prisons
Born on **April 2, 1951** in Qoubayat, northern Lebanon, Abdallah came from a **Maronite Marxist family**. He worked as a teacher before aligning with Arab nationalist movements and joining the **Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)**. In 1979, he co-founded the **Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Faction (LARF)**.
Between **1982 and 1984**, Abdallah was allegedly involved in a series of high-profile assassinations in Paris, including **U.S. military attaché Charles Ray** and **Israeli diplomat Yacov Barsimentov**, along with an attempted attack on a U.S. consul.
Arrest and Conviction
Abdallah was arrested in **October 1984** in **Lyon, France**, carrying a forged passport. Investigators later discovered **a cache of weapons and explosives** in a Paris apartment linked to him. In **1987**, he was sentenced to **life in prison**.
Years of Denied Parole
Eligible for parole since **1999**, Abdallah's petitions have been consistently denied due to **political pressure from the United States and Israel**. However, in **November 2024**, a French court approved his release, contingent upon immediate deportation. That ruling was challenged by **France’s counterterrorism prosecution**, but it has now been upheld.
Following the court's decision, **Lebanese Communist Party Secretary General Hanna Gharib** warned of potential Israeli attempts to assassinate Abdallah upon his return to Lebanon, demanding full state protection.
Resistance Icon or Security Threat?
As Georges Abdallah prepares to return home, the world remains divided: **Is he a revolutionary hero or a convicted killer?** His story continues to symbolize the intersection of **Middle Eastern resistance and international security conflicts**.
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