Opinion ID: 2980886
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Geagea’s Testimony

Text: Geagea testified that he lived in Jdeideh and worked for the Lebanese Forces2 as the bodyguard for Samir Geagea (“Samir”) from 1985 until Samir was jailed by the Syrian Hezbollah. See A.R. 152-53; A.R. 155; A.R. 167; A.R. 169-70. Geagea repeatedly maintained that his employment with the Lebanese Forces lasted between six and seven years, and that his employment terminated upon Samir’s arrest. A.R. 155; A.R. 167. Consistent with this timeline, Geagea asserted that his services with the Lebanese Forces terminated in 1991 or 1992. A.R. 168. Geagea also testified, however, that he was still working for the Lebanese Forces as late as 1994, A.R. 155, and that Samir’s eleven years’ imprisonment ended in 2005 or 2006. A.R. 170. When presented with these inconsistencies, Geagea backtracked, saying: “I don’t remember the exact date . . . 50 percent I don’t remember, because I don’t memorize the dates.” A.R. 170. See also A.R. 171. Geagea further testified that, after Samir was jailed, he “escaped [and] went up to the mountains” in Deir al Ahmar for 15 or 20 days. A.R. 178-80. Geagea then testified that he returned to Jdeideh and worked in his father’s store until leaving for the United States in 2000. A.R. 168. 2 Geagea described the Lebanese Forces as a paramilitary “political and military” organization that “defend[ed] the Lebanese army” and the “Christian Lebanese in Lebanon.” A.R. 165. -3- No. 10-3084 Jihad Geagea, et al. v. Eric Holder Geagea further alleged that during this time period the Syrian Hezbollah kidnapped him four times and tortured him because he was a Christian. A.R. 156-57. Geagea asserted that his longest period of arrest was approximately 11 hours, A.R. 175, but he was unable to recall any dates or even offer a detailed chronology. See A.R. 158; A.R. 172-74. Next, Geagea testified that he “used to be beaten on [his] hands,” but he did not seek medical treatment because he could not afford it. A.R. 175. Instead, Geagea explained, he would take “one tablet of Panadol, sleep – Tylenol or Panadol and sleep for two hours.” Id. Geagea admitted that he never required stitches and he never suffered a concussion or broken bones. Id. Geagea also testified that he, Raji, and Jad traveled to Syria to obtain their American visas approximately four months before traveling to the United States. A.R. 162-64. Geagea described his family’s passage from Lebanon to Syria as seamless, enabling them to make the trip across the border and back on the same day. A.R. 162-63.