Women in Front call on Kataeb to kick out MP Maruni

As reactions to MP Maruni’s anti-women statements continue (c.f. http://bit.ly/2cgeeKw), Women in Front group sent last Monday a letter to the President of the Kataeb Party, MP Sami Gemayel, demanding the resignation of MP Maruni.  The letter said: “While we were expecting an unequivocal apology from MP Maruni and a statement from the Phalangist Party condemning the incident, the response was quite the contrary”.  MP Maruni further threw accusations at the organizing women groups and continued to politicize the event in an attempt to mask the issue and marginalise the struggles of women in Lebanon”.  Women in Front also expressed its concern since “Maruni is not only a party member but also a representative in Parliament which bettors him with legislatives power related to the protection of all citizens, notably women”.  The organization concluded by calling for immediate measures to be taken by the Party given the severity of the incident in addition to issuing a formal statement to confirm that Maruni’s position is not harmonious with his party’s. To be noted that until now, the Kataeb has yet to issue a formal statement condemning the incident.  It has thus far discussed the controversy in its weekly political meeting on Tuesday where it has reiterated the position of the Party in support of full citizenship between women and men at the legislative, political and social level and has also reiterated the need for abolishing clause 522 of the penal code. (L’Orient le Jour 15 September,2016)