In response to Wahhab women groups in Mount Lebanon assert their presence

The Gathering of Women Associations in Mount Lebanon issued a statement yesterday responding to former minister Wi’am Wahhab, without naming him, who mentioned in a televised program the absence of a role for institutions, particularly women bodies, in the mountain area. The statement pointed out that the Gathering is the umbrella of over 50 women associations, that work “for sustainable welfare, revival of the state and service of citizens in the various social, health, educational, development, services and environmental arenas.” The Gathering is “keen on preserving internal stability and civil peace, refusing to be trapped in trivial talk show blather,” the statement said, stressing that such talk about absence of institutions in fact undermines the achievements, accomplishments and struggles of dozens of bodies in the service of the community. “This is totally inacceptable and aims to create turbulence,” the statement warned. “Voices advocating the narrow rights of confessional groups in fact divide rather than unite, and jeopardise national unity….”, the statement added. (Al Mustaqbal, November 29, 2016)