My Nationality Campaign condemns forcing women to choose between children and homeland

My Nationality is a Right for Me and My Family Campaign categorically refused that women and mothers be forced to choose between their children and their birthplace or between their parents and their families just because they are Lebanese and their children are not. The Campaign said in a statement yesterday, that Lebanese women always pay the price of prejudice against them. They don’t boast equal rights with men in all areas, especially in marriage, custody and nationality issues. The discriminatory laws in Lebanon reduce them to victims of any arising crisis, conflict, pandemic or internal or external decision as is the situation today with mothers who are barred from accompanying their non-Lebanese children into the country. The statement cited what happened with one Lebanese mother at the Rafic Hariri International Airport waiting for the arrival of her daughter and grandchildren from Belgium but who were disallowed to fly because they don’t carry the Lebanese passports https://bit.ly/2ZgeKRq. The statement clarified that after reviewing the circular issued by the Lebanese embassy in Belgium, the Campaign found that this announcement came in response to a request by the authorities in Brussels that ban the travel to Lebanon of any national who does not hold a Lebanese passport. My Nationality Campaign in conclusion, reminded that Lebanese women, who have not reclaimed their right to confer nationality to their family members, will continue to pay the bill of flagrant discrimination in policies and practices. And Today, they are hijacked by external directives that prevent them from accompanying their own children. The Campaign demanded social justice for women and the removal of bigoted outdated laws. (NNA, July 9, 2020)