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Appeal to Egyptian authorities to release Lebanese victim of sexual harassment

25-7-2018

After the Egyptian Misdemeanour Court recently sentenced the victim of sexual harassment, Mona Mazbouh, to 8 years in prison (c.f: https://goo.gl/f83jkR), the Lebanese Center for Human Rights (CLDH) held a press conference yesterday during which the Mazbouh family and a number of human rights activists appealed the Egyptian authorities to release her and to the Lebanese government to intervene to this effect. The family did not want to escalate the matter and suggested viewing it from a perspective of a mental disorder, Al Akhbar daily wrote, noting that no one has attempted to question the key issue which is that Mazbouh has been sexually harassed in Egypt. Mazbouh’s father said his daughter, a schizophrenic patient, was not fully aware of what she did, calling on concerned authorities in Egypt and Lebanon to urgently intervene to issue a special amnesty, alerting that the appeal hearing is on July 27, that is five days from now. For her part, CLDH program coordinator, Josiane Noun, while condemning Mazbouh’s act, considered that the damage the Egypt Court’s ruling inflicted on the North African state is many times more than the harm caused by the alleged defamatory video Mazbouh posted. The only crime in this case is sexual harassment of which Mona Mazbouh was a clear victim. (Al Akhbar, July 25 2018)
 
Previous related news:
Lebanese woman victim of sexual harassment sentenced to prison in Egypt
 
 

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My Nationality campaign warning of new behind-the-scenes naturalization

25-7-2018

My Nationality is A Right for Me and My Family campaign warned in a statement yesterday of naturalization requests being concocted by unofficial parties to facilitate the granting of the Lebanese nationality to mislead applicants. This, the statement added, involves some makhatirs who claim to expedite naturalization procedures for specific sects exclusively. After receiving a large number of inquiries on the subject, My Nationality campaign advised citizens against conceding to such calls or paying certain fees, as the ministry of interior is the only competent authority to grant or regulate nationality matters, the statement went on to say, noting that the ministry did not issue any communique or decree authorizing a third party to collect and receive applications. The Campaign’s statement also reminded that the right of Lebanese mothers married to non-Lebanese to confer citizenship to their family members is a right to equality, hence should not be influenced by sectarian considerations that foster confessional divides in the country. In conclusion, the Campaign stressed that nationality is granted only by virtue of a law that observes equality among the Lebanese men and women, revealing that it is working with lawmakers and jurists as well as with political blocs and decision makers to endorse and ratify a fair and comprehensive nationality law that guarantees all eligible persons to get nationality without discrimination, exception or confessional preferences. (An Nahar, July 25, 2018)

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Local community-based initiatives to boost tourism and trade

24-7-2018

Amidst persistent official slackness, local and community initiatives struggle to activate and revive tourism and commerce in the Lebanese regions. To this end, UNIFIL organized a traditional bazar last week at the Sector East headquarters in Marjeyoun to facilitate shopping for UNIFIL units and promote local trade. Some 30 shops from neighboring towns showcased commercial items including, wear, electronic gadgets and accessories. Meanwhile, the head of Jouma Municipalities in Akkar, mayor of Rahba, Fadi Habr, inaugurated the Rahba Summer Festivals 2018 which he described as an occasion for fun and joy, hoping his town would up to the level of prominent touristic hubs in the country. Al Majdal municipality in Bint Jbeil area also opened its annual summer festivities, and similarly Dar Ba’shtar, whose mayor boasted its honoring of students who passed the official exams during the festivities which take place every year. On the other hand, Al Diyar daily wrote that with the approaching summer season, touristic establishments and event planning organizers race to launch their festivals under the patronage of the tourism minister aided with financial support from his ministry. Only in Tripoli, where the ministry has no presence at all, Al Diyar said, citing Tripoli circles who wonder about the reasons for this official boycott of their city’s festivities. (Al Diyar, July 16, 21, 2018)

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Gaza women file mock lawsuits against their husbands

24-7-2018

The wives of the Palestinian Authority (PA) employees in Gaza seek to manipulate recent austerity measures taken by the PA through suing their husbands in an attempt to salvage what is left of their salaries, Al Akhbar reported today. The Palestinian Authority has cut the pay of employees on their payroll at a rate of 35%-60%, Al Akhbar wrote, noting that banks also continued to settle their loans, debt transactions and traditional fees. Some employees ended up with earning less than USD 10 of their regular wages, the newspaper explained. This forced wives of some public servants to file mock litigations against their husbands under the claims of alimony and child support after they discovered that Gaza Sharia courts consider said debits as “good debts”, implying that they have the priority in repayment before the loans since they are issued by courts. Um Hassan (40 years) one of the bold women to take action, said her husband was referred to early retirement when he was in his forties, but they did not face any problems. But since her spouse’s salary is roughly USD 330 and he benefits from a loan, which leaves him with USD80 at the end of the month, she decided to file for alimony. “This is overwhelming, because we live in a rented apartment with four children,” Um Hassan said, adding that the sharia court has ruled that she receives nearly USD 70, but that due to the slow pace of proceedings between the court and the insurance and pensions authority, she did not get the amount to date. (Al Akhbar, July 24, 2018)

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Figs cultivation in Arkoob needs a boost

24-7-2018

The fig season in the southern district of Arkoob, famed for its excellent quality in Lebanon and beyond, has started early this year, Al Mustaqbal reported. Despite the general disinterest in agriculture, the area still produces over 75 tons of fresh and dried figs every year, and is hopeful of official support to fig growers according to the newspaper. The life span of a fig tree is relatively short and demands special care, Abu Wassim Atiyyeh told the reporter, lamenting that all he has left are two fig trees sitting in his backyard for household consumption. On the other hand, Abu Ahmad Qaderi described this year’s harvest as better than last year, where one kg of fresh figs is currently sold at LBP 3000-4000 and the pound of dried figs (2.5 kgs) at LBP 30,000-40,000. He explained that figs are low maintenance fruits that do not need any chemical fertilizer and boast an organic nature. He grieved however that fig trees are no longer the same. Most trees that have now become old are not replaced by new ones, as the young generation is seeking a livelihood in the form of a steady job or abroad. (Al Mustaqbal, July 21, 2018)

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Film Censorship bans same sex kiss scene

23-7-2018

An Nahar newspaper reported that Mount Lebanon Appeal Court’s ruling stating that homosexuality was not a felony (http://www.lkdg.org/node/17638) did not seemingly reach the film censorship authorities. The latter affiliated with the General Security and formed of representatives of concerned committees and ministries, has banned the screening of Calling ID, a student film directed by Charbel Raad, during the Lebanese Independent Film Festival (LIFF) in Metropolis Sofil. The reason is that it included a few seconds of a kiss between two male actors. Raad voiced regret over the continued restrictions imposed on Lebanese works of cinema in an era of freedom, promising to release his film soon in US movie theatres with the backing of LIFF. On the other hand, Helem association, the Legal Agenda, Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the Arab Foundation for Freedoms and Equality (AFE) lauded the recent decision of Mount Lebanon Court of Appeal that decriminalized homosexuality, and described it as indicative of a fresh outlook for the LGBT community in Lebanon. In this respect, HRW pointed out that with the imminent formation of a new cabinet, the Lebanese legislature have a duty to abolish Article 534 of the Penal Code which states that sexual acts that contradict the laws of nature are punishable by one month up to a year in prison and by a fine ranging from LBP 200 thousand and LBP one million. (An Nahar, July 21, 2018)

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17 women to run for Bahraini elections

23-7-2018

Some 17 women from Bahrain expressed their willingness to run for parliamentary (Lower House) and municipal elections projected for next November, Al Ayyam reported on Saturday. The newspaper pointed out that the process of nomination of Bahraini women is in general independent, as political associations in the country exclude female candidates from their electoral lists, contrary to the Gathering of National Unity which recruited one woman back in 2014. MP Ro’ua Hayki and former MP Ibtisam Hajros reportedly plan to run for the upcoming elections, according to Al Ayyam, which wrote that to date, the capital Al Manama claims the largest share of female nominees, referring to six women candidates. To recall, during the previous 2014 parliamentary battle, 23 women ran for parliament and 10 women for the municipal council, of which only 7 women reached the second round of elections, three managed to reach the national assembly and one the municipal council. (Al Diyar, July 22, 2018)

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Regie to manage administration, export of cannabis

23-7-2018

Following his announcement last week that Lebanon will be reviewing the necessary studies to legalize the cultivation and production of cannabis for medicinal uses, house speaker Nabih Berri commissioned on Thursday a committee of experts to prepare a draft law to this effect. On the other hand, An Nahar newspaper wrote that a few week ago, Speaker of the House Berri disclosed to a delegation from the Regie Libanais des Tabacs et Tombacs that he will set up a public organization to manage the plantation, manufacturing and trade of cannabis similar to the Regie and asked if they can undertake the task, to which they promised to study the option. For his part, former minister Fadi Abboud voiced fears that the projected body will become a monopoly similar to the Regie, especially if the issuance of permits became political, recommending that the private sector does the job. On the subject, An Nahar reported that growing cannabis in Baalbek-Hermel is preserved to a few large scale farmers and influential parties, pointing to divided opinions among area residents on legalization of marijuana. A large scale farmer wanted on multiple charges welcomed the proposal should it steer clear of interferences, stressing the farmers’ readiness to cooperate with and relinquish a share of the profits to the State only if a general amnesty was released. Meanwhile, former mayor of Brital, Sheikh Ahmad Ismael, refused to promote the concept of legalization of the cannabis in the Bekaa, dubbing it as a means to further distort the repute of the area, and warning that the majority of the Bekaa’s youth will turn to marijuana. (An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, July 20, 23, 2018)

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Morocco appoints 299 women marriage notaries

23-7-2018

After the decision to allow women to participate in a state exam for the position of Mazoun (marriage notary) following a rare religious decree or fatwa issued last January to this end (c.f: https://goo.gl/aQPukx), the Moroccan ministry of justice announced on Saturday that it has recruited 299 women as legal notaries to register marriages from among the candidates. According to a statement published on the ministry’s official website, some 800 contestants passed the 2018 exam including 299 women, at a rate 37.38% against 501 males at 62.62%. The statement explained that this year’s competition is noted for endorsing females for the first time on par with their male peers in execution of the royal decree to this effect. The woman notary could from now on officiate contracts including marriages, divorces and legacy division, the statement added, describing the development as historic. (Al Hayat, July 22, 2018)

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Divergent domestic views towards protecting national agriculture and industry

20-7-2018

A delegation from the Syndicate of Importers of Foodstuff and Consumer Products voiced concern over the minister of trade, Raed Khoury’s decision last month to ban Turkish imports (c.f:https://bit.ly/2H2XqTC). Khoury clarified in response that his decision sought only to protect the domestic industrial sector, urging importers of foodstuff to concede that it strengthens national economy and reduces the trade deficit. The above decision, Khoury maintained, induced some countries to increase the size of their imports from Lebanon to avoid a fate similar to Turkey. On the other hand, the industry ministry announced in a statement this week that the food and agri food productions account for 20 percent of the total Lebanese industrial export for 2017. Meanwhile, IDAL chair, Nabil Itani, toured yesterday a number of vegetable and fruit packaging centers in the North to inspect compliance with adopted packaging specifications and the extent of development achieved as part of the Agricultural Exports Development program. He pointed out that the overall agricultural exports under said program have reached nearly 345 thousand tons in 2017, adding that olive oil exports hit record high numbers in the past few years. However, the highest sought target of the above program, Itani stated, is to support and develop packaging centers, noting that some 20 packaging centers have acquired ISO certifications to date. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, July 18, 20, 2018)

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