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Rashida Tlaib to become first Muslim woman elected to US Congress

10-8-2018

Rashida Tlaib is set to become the first Muslim woman in the US Congress after winning on Wednesday the Democratic Party primary for a house seat in the state of Michigan. Tlaib, the oldest of 14 children from a Palestinian immigrant family in Detroit, chose to study law and became an advocate for social justice and environment. In the primary election, she won 33.6% of the vote against other candidates. Since no Republican politician is running for the seat in the 13th Congressional District in Michigan, Tlaib is expected to easily win by acclamation in the upcoming November 6 elections. In a message she wanted to broadcast through an interview with CNN, Tlaib said: “It’s not about just being out there and flaunting your faith. I always say that I showcase Islam in an impactful way through public service.” (Al Diyar, August 10, 2018)

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Lebanon refuses to grant diplomatic residency to same sex partner

10-8-2018

The Ambassador of Canada to Lebanon, Emmanuelle Lamoureux, denied news published by Al Akhbar about her request to the Lebanese foreign ministry to grant her same sex partner a residency in the country similar to that given to wives and spouses of diplomats. Lamoureux’s brief response came yesterday after her meeting with minister Jibran Bassil. She said she did not want to elaborate on the matter, maintaining that her CV is available and accessible, and it clearly states that she has been married for years and has three children of her own. Citing foreign ministry sources, L’Orient Le Jour newspaper said that the ministry has received similar requests to grant same sex partners of diplomats residency permits, but that the ministry has consistently refused to do so under the pretext that the Lebanese Penal Code prohibits homosexual relations. (L’Orient Le Jour, August 10, 2018)

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Gender equality in inheritance in Tunisia

10-8-2018

The Commission for Individual Freedoms and Equality in the Tunisian parliament has refused to put to referendum the draft law for equal rights in inheritance and individual freedoms following an escalated debate over the reform law unveiled last year by President Beji Caid Essebsi ahead of the National Women’s Day, Al Hayat reported yesterday (c.f: https://goo.gl/22p6E2). The newspaper said Essebsi is expected to declare the referral of the draft to the Assembly of the Representatives of the People. On the subject, Al Hayat spoke to the head of the above Commission, Bushra Belhaj Hamida, who voiced objection to putting to referendum the provisions related to equality in inheritance between men and women as well as individual freedom, stressing these matters should be seriously discussed in the Parliament away from political manipulation. The rejection, Al Hayat wrote, comes in light of the growing debate on the societal reform report which contained legal provisos promoting and consolidating gender equality in inheritance, and stipulations decriminalizing homosexuality and assault on individual freedoms, in addition to, granting women the right to child custody and family leadership. The newspaper mentioned that Islamic conservative factions stepped up their protests against the report in a number of provinces and warned against flouting the terms of Sharia law. (Al Hayat, August 9, 2018)

Previous related news:
Tunisia defers debate on gender equality in inheritance
Gender equality in inheritance rifts Islamists
Tunisian president’s call for gender equality questioned
Call for gender equality in inheritance in Tunisia steers controversy

 

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Amal Movement supports Lebanese women’s right to nationality

9-8-2018

Within the framework of consultations with decision makers, My Nationality Is A Right For Me And My Family Campaign met yesterday with minister and MP Inaya Ezzedine, in her capacity as chairperson of the Mother and Child Committee and member in Amal Movement’s political bureau. The delegation, which included coordinator, Karima Chebbo, coordinating committee member, Nadira Nahhas and activist Nasser Mazraani, discussed the persistent facts concerning deprivation of Lebanese women from their rights in conferring citizenship to their family members, and outlined the outcome of the Campaign’s meetings with political parties so far. For her part, Ezzedine confirmed complete backing to this right to ensure full equality between men and women citizens, stressing that social justice should be the cornerstone for all laws in effect in the country. She reiterated Amal Movement’s unanimous support of this right, promising to work fully to guarantee amendment of the present prejudiced law. Likewise, My Nationality is a Right for Me and Family Campaign delegation drew attention to the draft bill submitted to parliament by the Democratic Gathering bloc two days ago, hoping Ezzedine will vote in favor, especially that after reviewing it, it appeared to endorse complete equality in the nationality law provisions. On the said proposal, Democratic Gathering MP Hadi Abul Hissen, explained that it addresses the dilemma of stateless persons and plays fair to Lebanese women married to non-Lebanese by giving them the right to grant nationality to their children and spouses, a par with their men peers. He maintained that these two issues have become of utmost urgency and should be treated and resolved as such. “He who carries a progressive humanitarian outlook cannot be dissuaded by a sect, religion, or any other demographic related doctrine whatsoever,” Abul Hissen stated. (NNA, An Nahar, August 9, 2018)
 

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LF supports women’s full nationality right and draft bill from Democratic Gathering
My Nationality is a Right for Me and My Family Campaign warns against exploitation of citizenship issue
My Nationality campaign warning of new behind-the-scenes naturalization
Proposal by My Nationality campaign to amend the law
MP Yacubian supports My Nationality is a Right for Me and My Family campaign
 

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Sex trafficking of Syrian women in Beirut exposed

8-8-2018

As part of its anti-human trafficking campaign, the Criminal Court of Beirut sentenced members of a prostitution network, Ali and Abbas, Syrian nationals, to one and half year imprisonment and with up to LBP 200 thousand fines each for the charge of luring girls into sex work. Samir, a suspect at large and the ex of one of the girl victims, was also punished with 10 years of hard labor and was stripped of his civil rights. As for the victims, Salwa and Majida, they were sentenced with 2 months imprisonment. In the details of the ruling pronounced by Judge Sammy Sedqi, the information available at the Anti Human Trafficking and Morals Protection Bureau pointed to the involvement of Ali and Abbas in facilitating prostitution for a number of Syrian girls in Beirut by contacting them on three cellular lines. As a result, a unit patrol arrested all suspects, and Salwa admitted receiving USD 100 per hour, half of which went to her procurers. Majida, in turn, said she was sold from one ring facilitator to another at USD 1,500. (Al Mustaqbal, August 8, 2018)

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New joint UN report on gender equality in Lebanon

8-8-2018

As an outcome of a joint project between UNDP, UN Women UN, and UNFPA, a report was launched yesterday on the legislations, policies and practices related to gender equality and justice in Lebanon. In this respect, the minister of state for women’s affairs in the caretaker government, Jean Ogassapian, stressed the need to translate the report’s recommendations into an executive plan. The Deputy UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Philippe Lazzarini, for his part, pointed out that there is still a lot to be done to achieve the desired objectives in Lebanon, stating that women in this country face discrimination at all levels. In turn, the editor of the report, Manar Zeiater, outlined the main conclusions focusing on the fact that justice is baseless in the presence of discriminatory laws and policies at the level of gender or that are not in conformity with human rights approaches. Gender equality, Zeiater maintained, is meaningless outside the context of guaranteeing justice to women and all marginalized groups. The report included a number of recommendations calling for the following: Adoption of a law that fights early marriage; criminalization of sexual harassment; ensuring equality in rights between men and women, such as the right to grant nationality; training police and law enforcement units on approaches based on gender equality and increasing the participation of women at the political, economic and social levels. (Al Mustaqbal, August 8, 2018)

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A female diplomat requests residency for her partner, Lebanese officials give no answer!

8-8-2018

Al Akhbar daily wrote today that, at a time when a number of countries, including The Vatican, have taken progressive steps on LGBT rights, Lebanon is still far away from this issue. The newspaper, citing informed sources, reported that the Ambassador of Canada to Lebanon, Emmanuelle Lamoureux, asked the foreign ministry to grant her female life partner a residency permit that is usually granted for the wives of diplomats. The foreign ministry, nonetheless, has not taken any decision, Al Akhbar mentioned, since this is the first time it faces such a request. (Al Akhbar, August 8, 2018)

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LF supports women’s full nationality right and draft bill from Democratic Gathering

7-8-2018

In the framework of its visits to political parties to brief them on their amendment proposal, My Nationality Is A Right For Me And My Family Campaign announced in a statement yesterday that it has met with Lebanese Forces Bloc member Antoine Habshi and discussed with him nationality matters and arguments put forward by opponents to said law. Habshi expressed to the Campaign representatives his backing to all the rights of women, including the right to nationality, noting that he will work fully to adjust the law in order to give the Lebanese mothers their rights to grant nationality to their family members, according to the statement. On the other hand, the Democratic Gathering bloc submitted a draft bill to the Legislature concerning the acquisition of nationality following a debate caused by the recent naturalization decree, said MP Hadi Abul Hassan. The proposal, he clarified, seeks to bring about justice and equality among the Lebanese in civil rights, modernize laws related to nationality, realize the right of Lebanese women to confer nationality to their children and settle the case of stateless persons in Lebanon. (For the full text of the draft bill, kindly visit the following link: https://goo.gl/MaJD9m. My Nationality is a Right for me and My Family Campaign praised the stand of the Gathering, stating that it will support the endorsement of either of above proposals, hoping they will not be buried in the Lebanese parliament’s drawers. (Al Akhbar, Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, August 7, 2018)

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Trans persons rejected by Lebanese society

7-8-2018

L’Orient Le Jour today wrote about the suffering and anguish of trans persons, particularly females, in Lebanon, after a video went viral on social media last week which showed a man beating a transwoman on the street in broad daylight. On this subject, activist Tarek Zeydan, from Helem Association, explained that what the video displayed, regardless of the dispute between the two, uncovers the extent of violence practiced against this category of trans persons, who are still marginalized in society. Norma, a trans woman, said the comments supporting the violence in the video are not unexpected. They reflect the mindset of Lebanese society which refuses anything that is different because of its ignorance of transgender persons, Norma added, noting that these people are constantly battered, demeaned and pigeon-holed as sex workers. She revealed that the majority of these women cannot open a bank account, rent a house or file a grievance in public departments, stating that only civil society organizations welcome them aboard for work. Helem association seeks to protect them from society by helping them find proper jobs, Norma said. Naya, another transwoman, mentioned daily arrests on security checkpoints and bad treatment inside prisons where they are exposed to moral and sexual harassment as well as rape. (L’Orient Le Jour, August 7, 2018)

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Tripoli religious educators lament absence of justice

6-8-2018

The anguish of the religious educators at Awkaf Akkar continues, Al Diyar newspaper reported. Some 134 female and male educators who, despite their affiliation with the richest Awkaf charities in the country, live below the poverty line on scant salaries that are barely enough to pay their living expenses, Al Diyar wrote. Amidst harsh economic conditions, nearly half of these teachers are reluctant to teach or sign new contracts, particularly after the UAE suspended their financial grants worth of USD 300 per teacher six months ago, noting that these educators (males and females) depend on said grants for subsistence. Nonetheless, Al Diyar went on to say, the teachers are very hopeful the Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Abdellatif Deryan, will resolve the impasse. The newspaper quoted the distressed educators as repeatedly criticizing the preferential attitude of the Directorate of Sunni Islamic Awqaf. They cited the assignment of multiple jobs to one sheikh thus bringing his monthly salary to more than LBP 1,500,000, in addition to his receiving a generous benefit package of LBP 15,000,000 annually, the payment of his children's school fees and the last four salaries of his work at Dar al Fatwa. While inconsistently, there are sheikhs whose monthly salaries do not exceed LBP 140,000, Al Diyar wrote, pointing to a general disappointment among sheikhs towards Saudi Arabia’s support to Wahhabi Salafist sheikhs in Lebanon, where each one of them is allocated USD 1,500 a month.(Al Diyar, August 1, 5, 2018)

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