Beirut, the 15th of May, 2015

Your Excellency the Director General of General Security, Mr. Abbas Ibrahim,
The date to make a final decision in the case of the migrant worker Renuka Irangani and
her family is fast approaching. Renuka has been legally residing and working in Lebanon
for almost 15 years. Moreover, she and her husband Jagdish were married in Sri Lanka
before moving to Lebanon.
Fourteen years ago, Renuka and Jagdish had a baby girl named Susana. Ever since she
was born, Susana has been the motivation for her parents hard work and dedication. Her
parents have lived their entire lives under the law. They have never violated any
Lebanese laws, as they considered the law to be their only protection. They have done all
they could to secure the necessities of life for their daughter, so that she would never be a
burden to Lebanese society. Throughout her childhood, Susana has been enrolled in a
private school in Lebanon at her parents expense. She is approaching the realization of
her dream and her parents dream, which is like that of any parents who are ambitious
for their child to succeed.
Everyone who knows Renuka or Jagdish or Susana has witnessed their dedication to their
work, their love for Lebanon, and their respect for its laws and government. Renuka and
her family have never wanted to defy the Lebanese government or General Security.
Even her taking refuge at Insan Association was an appeal for help from the Lebanese
legal system. Insan Association was duty-bound to support her, to show her situation and
her compliance with the laws in force in Lebanon.
General Security detained Renuka and Jagdish and later released them, telling them that it
would take a maximum of one month to review their case before making a final decision
on whether their residency permits, and that of their daughter, would be renewed.

Achrafieh, Adib Ishak Street, Maalouf Bldg.,7th floor, Beirut, Lebanon

Telefax: 961(1) 333 091, Mobile: 961(3) 424166, www.insanassociation.org

Your Excellency Director General, we send you this letter just days before General
Security will inform Renuka and her family of their fate. The case has received close
attention from Lebanese society, Arab society, the international community,
ambassadors, journalists, human rights activists, and lawyers. This concern stems not
only from the cases humanitarian significance, but also because all of us in Lebanon
and internationally as well strongly desire that the Lebanese government will protect
the weak first, that it will issue rulings protecting the most vulnerable, and that its power
will be able to protect basic human rights and to bring about a more just society.
It is in your hands to renew our trust in the state, in the humaneness of its administration,
and in the wisdom of its leadership. Your final decision on this familys case carries
major importance, and could signify an increase in our countrys progress, in its
modernity, in its protection of human rights, international norms and the sanctity of the
family, of motherhood and fatherhood.
Your Excellency Director General of General Security, thank you for reading this letter,
and thank you if you act justly. Your decision on Renuka, Jagdish and Susana carries
much importance for the future of Lebanon and a humane society.

Founder and Director of Insan Association Defending Human Rights

Charles G. Nasrallah

Achrafieh, Adib Ishak Street, Maalouf Bldg.,7th floor, Beirut, Lebanon

Telefax: 961(1) 333 091, Mobile: 961(3) 424166, www.insanassociation.org