Physicians an social specialists participated in the seminar which was attended by representatives of syndicate, health and social bodies as well as Kamal Ghorayeb, member of Press syndicate and Mohamad Safa, secretary general of the follow-up committee for supporting the case of Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons in addition to some released hostages .

The seminar began with the national anthem followed by a welcome speech made by Ghorayeb. Then Dr. Ghassan Jaafar, president of the Physicians assembly in Lebanon delivered a speech in the name of Khiam center in which he said that the center's launch became very necessary in order to fulfill the liberation of the survivors from  torture and psychological, social and health effects.

He also declared that khiam center which was launched by the follow- up committee of detainees shall not be just a project and an idea, it must become a practical reality. It will be so when the state takes upon itself this project and supports it through the voluntary service provided by physicians and social specialists in the biggest workshop so that this center will succeed, encouraging the voluntary participation in professional, social and psychological rehabilitation.

He invited all efforts to collaborate together confirming that the physicians Assembly is ready to provide released detainees and  their families as well as fighters' families with free medical services.

Dr. Ahmed Ayach, a psychologist  made an intervention in which he exposed the relation between groaning and psychological faculties at the arrest noting that there are two categories of detainees :

The first category includes detainees who were arrested for a certain period of time and for some reasons that jailers know, and the second one includes detainees who are accused of dealing with the resistance.

Dr. Ayach stated that the detainees of the second category enjoyed psychological and mental immunity when they were imprisoned which enabled them to face the jailer and his means of torture.

He noted that groaning and psychological immunity constituted a factor of strength which detainees used to bear pain and to re-organize their thoughts, considering that this factor is an incentive that can recall sad memories in order to get benefit of the sources of strength and courage, to be more patient in order to face anxiety concerning the destiny .

Recommendations and proposals .  

Dr. Salah Assfour, a psychologist presented the following recommendations and proposals regarding the rehabilitation of released hostages :

1-   The Lebanese psychological association must present a clinic therapeutic program after reviewing very well and evaluating all cases.

It must as well consecrate necessary time for primary therapy and follow- up .

2-   Social experts must follow -up difficult cases, approve one plan of action and present reports about these cases to the therapist bodies.

3-    Activate charitable associations and owners of industrial establishments to put a professional rehabilitation  program able to help every individual to regain his self -esteem and to pass through the rehabilitation period while facing the least possible number of administrative and financial obstacles.

4-   Establishing a therapeutic center for such cases under the supervision of therapeutic institutions and the Ministry of Health .

Mr. Kamal Hafez, secretary of the Lebanese Association for psychological medicine, talked about therapeutic means explaining the symptoms resulting from the released prisoner's own experience. These symptoms include chronic breakdown and deep psychological breakdown and cases of great fear. He defined these symptoms as a part of syndromes " arrest neurosis"

Dr. Ghassan Yaacoub enumerated the torture traces on the released on all levels :

Physical, psychological, mental and physiological levels tackling painful symptoms that could be noticed on torture survivors such as images  related to scenes of arrest and torture, insomnia, decrease in love desire, great difficulty in breathing going along with anger shouts.

Mr. Yaacoub suggested many solutions such as establishing programs of assistance, support, and making the prisoner feel safe and secure , helping him to be accustomed with reality , providing him with financial and social support to enhance him on the moral level and developing and reinforcing social relationships and friendships through the supporting group in addition to necessary professional rehabilitation .

05/07/2000.