Editing Samir Geagea (section)

=== Release ===
Leaders of the [[Cedar Revolution]] considered the Geagea trials and sentences to be unjust, politically motivated, and orchestrated by the vassal government that ruled Lebanon during the Syrian occupation to oust Geagea from the political scene and dismantle the [[Lebanese Forces]].<ref name="SB">{{cite web|last=Radio Sawt Beirut International |title=Lebanese Political Parties- Lebanese Forces |format=SawtBeirut |access-date=7 July 2009 |url=http://www.sawtbeirut.com/lebanese-party/lebanese-forces.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123034909/http://sawtbeirut.com/lebanese-party/lebanese-forces.htm |archive-date=23 January 2009 }}</ref> When supporters of the Cedar Revolution won the majority in the [[2005 Lebanese general election|2005 parliamentary elections]], they lobbied for an amnesty law to free Geagea from his disputed sentences.<ref name="SB"/>

The Lebanese Parliament passed an amnesty bill on 18 July 2005 to free Geagea. Given the sectarian balance of Lebanon, three dozen Islamist criminals were released with Geagea. The bill was subsequently signed by the then president [[Émile Lahoud]].<ref name="BBC"/> Geagea was released from prison on 26 July 2005 and left Lebanon for medical care.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4716701.stm Lebanese ex-warlord is released], ''BBC News'', 26 July 2005. Retrieved on 27 July 2007.</ref> He returned to [[Lebanon]] on 25 October (his birthday), and lived in the Cedars region, his ancestral homeland, in northern Lebanon until 11 December 2006, after which he moved to a hotel in [[Bzoummar]] in [[Keserwan District|Keserwan]]. On 30 June 2007, he moved to a new residence in [[Maarab]], Keserwan.