Other news

The outrageous murder of Sara Al Amin by her husband Ali Zein (for full news press here) brought back the debate on the role of social norms and practices in playing down the implementation of the domestic violence law passed a year ago by the Lebanese Parliament, as well as in sustaining the deafening silence of women who are subjected to abuse. According to As Safir newspaper, the slain wife refused to press domestic violence charges against her husband or file a protection grievance given her by the new law to the Jury for matters of special urgency, which basically requires that the abuser stay away from the marital house. Sara has reportedly told her attorney Ashraf Mousawi that she “did not want her husband and father of her children to be humiliated”. Not only did she refuse the protection order but also that her husband appears at the police station to sign a pledge vowing not to ill-treat his wife again. The shocking crime instigated a wide social media campaign by activists challenging women to refrain form using such outdated advices such as: “go back to your husband, forgive him, compromise, it’s ok, sacrifice for your family…”; describing these advices as ‘killers’. In this respect, Sara’s father revealed to the newspaper that he and his sons opposed his daughter’s return to her marital house but she insisted to “reunite with her family and sacrifice for the sake of her children”. It is to be noted that Article 549 (on attempted murder) of the new protection law provides for severe punishment, namely life sentence, for the husband who kills his wife which repeals the old Penal Code provisos of severity of punishment that exclude the wife. Sara’s lawyer Mousawi confirmed that he will base his case on this stipulation in prosecuting the defendant. On the same note, lawyer Leila Awada, Kafa’s legal unit officer, demanded the review of the legal ways used in these cases, criticizing the resort to reconciliation to resolve differences between couples especially when the life of the wife is at risk. (As Safir, 20 May 2015)

Sara Al Ameen joined the growing list of domestic violence victims in Lebanon this year when her husband, Ali Zein, shot her dead in front of her six kids in their home in Dohat Aramoon south of Beirut, Tuesday morning. Security forces arrested the perpetrator who was taken to the police station for investigation under the supervision of Appellate Lawyer in charge of domestic violence cases, Judge Ghada Abu Alwan. The victim’s attorney, Ashraf Musawi, said the culprit lured his wife to their marital house after kicking her off previously while keeping her identity papers with him, and then he celebrated the birthday of one of their daughters before firing some 17 bullets into his wife’s body using an assault rifle. Musawi has in the past filed a lawsuit against the husband for beating and torturing as well as for other domestic violence charges, but the husband did not comply. He said the murdered wife has been for 20 years putting up with ill-treatment and beating by her husband who banned her from visiting her parents’ house. (Al Akhbar, Al Diyar, 20 May 2015)

The General Directorate of General Security took yet another discriminatory measure by the end of last year vis-a-vis migrant workers of categories 3 and 4, namely those with very low income. The measure requested from the “sponsor” to make sure that there is no personal/emotional relationship of any sort between the migrant worker and any other migrant residing in Lebanon. The sponsor also commits to go to General Security should such relation take place and provide a return ticket for the migrant worker. During that same period, the Directorate General of GS had also decided to withhold the renewal of residency permits for the children of migrant domestic women workers as these, according to GS, are in Lebanon to work and not to fall in love and build families. Based on this, a memo was sent from the Ministry of Justice to the Chief of the Council of Notaries requesting that a relevant clause be added to the sponsor’s affidavit when bringing in or ‘transferring’ migrant workers. The DG of GS justified these decisions as being of a “protective nature” because in the case of these categories of workers, they do not enjoy an environment that is conducive for raising families according to the media spokesperson of the GS, brigadier Nabil Hannun.  However, lawyer Nizar Saghieh notes that the GS has no remit to decide as to which environment is suitable for raising children. Saghieh added that the GS has committed a serious human rights violation with such a decision which contradicts the provisions of the International Conventional to eliminate all Forms of racial Discrimination as well as the International Covenant of Human Rights which both stipulate the need to combat racism and slavery. The president of the Council of Notaries, Raymonde Bashur, told Al Akhbar newspaper that the Council will not accept any decision which is in violation of human rights and will not keep silent about this matter. (Al Akhbar, 18 May 2015)

Following the raid by General Security units into the offices of Insann Association and the arrest of Renuka Irangani and her husband Jagdish Kumar with no charges (press here for full news), the two Nepalese domestic workers are heading today to the GS headquarters for renewal of their residency permits. According to Rula Hamati, research and advocacy officer at Insann, the General Security did not request the appearance of the employers nor the payment of renewal fees as usually is the case, which arose suspicion of a hidden intention to deport the family. To this end, director and founder of Insann, George Nasrallah, sent an open letter to GS Director General, Abbas Ibrahim, thanking him for renewing the papers. “Your final decision on this family’s case carries major importance,” he stated in the letter hoping the GS would abide by an earlier court decision and observe international conventions. For her part, Hamati said that the positive tone of the above letter aimed to encourage the General Security to act justly and to take the right decision. Al Akhbar newspaper added that in doing so Insann is acting as a watchdog while hoping that GS takes the right decision. (Al Akhbar, 14 May 2015)

Another case of domestic violence assault forged its way to justice by virtue of Law No. 293 to protect women and other family members from domestic violence. The Judge for matters of special urgency in the Beqaa town of Jeb Janeen, Judge Fadi Aridi issued a brave ruling in yet another physical and emotional domestic violence case following a grievance filed by a woman asking for protection from her father-in-law who reportedly forced her out of her house after her husband’s death. When she moved to another place with her two minor kids, he again kicked her out after beating her and her children on the pretext that both homes were officially his as they were built on his own property. However, it is to be noted that the battered party and her deceased husband have actually paid for the construction of both houses. Based on these facts, Judge Aridi, and in accordance with the Law, issued a verdict that requires the following: 1) that the defendant halts immediately and indefinitely all kinds of abuse or aggression against the plaintiff and her children; 2) that the defendant allows the plaintiff to reintegrates maternal house and settles there with her underage children; 3) that the defendant instantly pays the assaulted party LBP one million as compensation for the costs of treatment for her and the two children required as a result of being subjugated to violence, and finally, 4) that the defendant and by virtue of Article 20 of the Law 293 undergoes voluntarily and at his own expenses twenty sessions of rehabilitation at KAFA rehabilitation center. Upon completion of the treatment, he is required to submit a full report to the court so as to allow it to take the appropriate decision. (An Nahar, 12 May 2015)

Al Diyar newspaper published an interview with BLC General Manager Mr. Maurice Sehnawi following his recent participation in the Women’s Empowerment Principles Annual Forum at the UN Headquarters in New York along with UN Director General Ban Ki Moon and US Senator Hilary Clinton (for full coverage of the forum activities, press here). Sehnawi described his participation as positive and explained that Lebanon and the Arab World now have a presence and say in influential global conferences that support and respect the accomplishments of women. In his address to women in Lebanon and Arab countries, Sehnawi promised to launch new women empowering initiatives and to step up efforts to raise awareness against gender-based discrimination. BLC chief disclosed that the UN and big multinational financial institutions agree on the need to support women in business as their entry into the world of entrepreneurship is bound to raise economic growth by 22%, according to two studies carried out by the UN and the World Bank. (Al Diyar, 8 May 2015)

The Council of Ministers appointed last month former Minister Raya al-Hassan, head of the special economic zone (SEZ) in Tripoli, in accordance with the regulatory decrees issued in 2009. In an interview with L’Orient Le Jour April 25, Hassan considered that political differences were the main reason behind the delay in the appointments. While noting the absence of precise figures to measure the actual level of unemployment in Tripoli, Hassan confirmed that 80% of the population of Tripoli is deprived of basic care services, like social security, health services, water and education. She emphasized the need to move forward in the setting up of the Zone in order to lift the Tripoli population from their current misery, while stressing that the area will undoubtedly benefit from the reconstruction process in Syria. Hassan also indicated potential support from international donors, namely the World Bank. Concerning the rights of men and women workers' in the zone, Hassan said that they will benefit from health services and will have access to legal support should their rights as defined by local labor law and international conventions be infringed upon, adding that SEZ special regulations will be reviewed if they do not observe those basic labor rights. (L’Orient Le Jour, 25 April 2015)

Kafa noted in a recent statement that the current Minister of Labor, Sejaan Azzi, ironically expressed his readiness to grant Lebanese nationality to some 420,000 domestic workers of African and Asian origins which thus will transform Lebanon into a “multi-colorful” instead of a multi confessional state! According to Kafa, “Minister Azzi has often made similar statements and took actions that are in violation of the principles of Human Rights and in contradiction with his duties as a minister who ought to be observing the provisos of international conventions that clearly oppose any kind of discrimination between human beings on the basis of color, race or affiliation.” The women association highlighted some of these recent statements and actions such as for instance threatening to stop by force the activities of the founding meeting for the establishment of a domestic workers trade union; sending out inspectors to a magazine after it published a feature on the conditions of domestic workers and the new trade union, as well as insulting a Kafa woman activist for her intervention during a televised interview. Kafa's statement went onto say that the Minister of Labor always resort to poorly founded excuses on priorities whenever challenging the demands of civil society. Kafa concluded by expressing its outrage at the failure by the Minister to observe his duties and continuous infringement on the rights and dignity of people, while condemning his arrogance towards human rights organizations and media institutions that have challenged his irresponsible acts.

For the full KAFA statement, please refer to the following link:
http://bit.ly/1IlNhj9

(Al Akhbar, As Safir, 8 & 9 May 2015)