With the objection of MPs of the Lebanese Forces (LF) and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), the Lebanese Legislature yesterday passed a law exempting the children of Lebanese mothers married to non-Lebanon holding complimentary residences, from getting a work permit. Commenting on the above law, the executive director of Women’s Learning Partnership, Lina Abu Habib, described the step as positive in a way, noting that the process was exhausting for families in the past. But on the other hand, she criticized the opposition the law faced, especially from a powerful party like the FPM, which is not promising as per its future stand with relation to the nationality draft bill that basically allows Lebanese mothers to confer citizenship to their children. Abu Habib questioned the timing of above law concurrent with escalating campaigns against Syrian workers in the country. It is important to know to what extent this law actually and eventually respects women’s rights, she asked. Similarly, the coordinator of My Nationality is A Right for Me and My Family Campaign, Karima Chebo, deplored the opposition to above law, saying that, FPM’s abstention from supporting the first step in lifting, albeit partially, the injustice against Lebanese women married to non-Lebanese, casts doubts on the true intention of the FPM party in approving the aforementioned right. She voiced surprise over the LF opposition of the law, despite the continuous appeals by Party members for change and full citizenship. FPM member, Alain Aoun, clarified that the party did not object to the text of the law, but did not see the urgency in its enactment either, which necessitates debate within the parliamentary committees. MP George Okeis, for his part, expressed caution over giving women their rights in chunks, demanding a thorough discussion of the issue. (Al Akhbar, L’Orient Le Jour, June 27, 2019)
