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Tunisia revokes ban of marriage of women to non-Muslims

15-9-2017

One month after Tunisian President, Beji Caid Essebsi’s call to change laws to ensure equal inheritance rights for women and their rights in marriage to non-Muslims, the government issued a memorandum noting non-compulsory indication of the religion of the husband in the marriage contract, contrary to the old decree which requires a foreign husband to spell out his religion or a non-Muslim to pronounce the Shahada in front of the Mufti in order to conclude the marriage to a Muslim woman. To this effect, the ministry of justice sent the memo endorsing the repeal of the 1973 Ordinance to all national courts, marriage offices and consulates, mentioning that said decree is in violation of the country’s Constitution and its international agreements. Similarly, the presidential spokeswoman, Saeeda Qarash, published on her Facebook page that all provisions related to banning of marriage to a non-Muslim have been abolished. “Congratulations to the women of Tunisia their free choice of spouses,” she wrote. Qarash, to recall, is a prominent leftist and feminist figure in the North African state. Some observers believe she was behind Essebsi’s announcement of changes and his seeking to win the support of women after the past elections proved their overwhelming backing for him. (Al Hayat, September 15, 2017)
 

Previous related news: 
Tunisian president’s call for gender equality questioned
Call for gender equality in inheritance in Tunisia steers controversy
Tunisian President stands up for gender equality in inheritance, Al Azhar objects

 

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Art performing for women inmate in Tripoli

15-9-2017

The Lebanese Charitable Association for Reform and Rehabilitation organized a performing art ceremony for women inmates at the Tripoli Central Prison, held under the patronage of the Director General of the Internal Security Forces, Major General Imad Othman, and with the presence of a number of political, religious and social dignitaries. Under the title, ‘I want to live, breathe and express myself’, the prisoners presented a number of dances inspired from their life inside prison cells. On the occasion, the head of the association, Fatmeh Badra, commended similar activities that tap the innate hope in the hearts of prisoners, which, as she put it, “will eventually seep out and shine when they get out more empowered to face the challenges of life.” One inmate recounted the daily life in detention, mentioning the effect of the regular events organized by the association, particularly, the theatrical performance part, which she maintained will contribute to alleviating the suffering of living behind bars. (Al Mustaqbal, September 15, 2017)

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3 women appointed in Lebanese election commission

15-9-2017

The minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, lauded the unprecedented appointment of three women to the elections commission following a recommendation he submitted to this end to interior minister Nuhad Mashnuk, noting that the three women are: Karine Geagea, Sylvana Al Lakkis and Arda Akmakji. Ogassapian underlined the significance of this step in the empowerment of women in various areas, calling for strengthening this with parallel measures in order to achieve the ministry’s goals, notably, the participation of Lebanese women in political life. (Al Mustaqbal, September 15, 2017)

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More promises and suggestions to deal with the apple glut

14-9-2017

The minister of agriculture, Ghazi Zeaiter met yesterday with a committee consisting of the Directorate of Agricultural Resources and the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange instrument of the European Commission (TAIEX) to find ways to handle the disposal of apple production. Earlier, TAIEX, at the request of the ministry of agriculture, had set a program for meetings with concerned parties in this sector. Zeaiter discussed with the above committee a number of recommendations to this end, notably: investment in infrastructure of rural and local development projects (centers for packaging, and apple processing factories); review of the standard specifications for the apple sector; reconsidering the KAFALAT system; reactivation of microcredit program; setting-up apple processing plants for second rate or uncategorized apple products (apple juice, apple chips…) as a solution to compensate economic losses… (for full list of recommendations, ( http://bit.ly/2x2Q2FK). On the current marketing and disposal of production impasse, the head of the Syndicate of Exporters of Fruits and Vegetables in Lebanon, Naim Khalil, after meeting minister Zeaiter, revealed efforts to restore exporting of apples to the UAE, demanding stepping up payment of the remaining compensation installment. In the same vein, the Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bishara Rai’ received last week a delegation from the Committee of Apple Growers in Bcharri, accompanied by the town’s Lebanese Forces Coordinator, mukhtar Fadi Chidyak. Rai’ voiced his support to farmers disclosing contacts on his part with local and international parties to resolve the problem. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, September 13, 14, 2017)

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Syria criticized for not rescind reservations to Article 15/4 of CEDAW

14-9-2017

Al Hayat newspaper drew attention today to the legislative decree published in Syria in mid-July rescinding the reservations to Article 2 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) related to ending gender discrimination in the constitutions in accordance with Islamic Sharia, as stated in the text of the decree. However, the decree refused to withdraw reservations to Article 15/4 on freedom of movement, travel and residence as it contradicts with Article 70 of the personal status law which forces the wife to travel accompanied with her husband unless stated otherwise in the contract, in addition to their conflict with the social traditions and norms that view women as living in the shadow of their husbands or subordinates to men. Al Hayat wrote about a tragic reality imposed during the years of war on the Syrian society, and on women in particular, being the main providers and breadwinners of their households in the absence of their spouses. The newspaper went on to say, that concerned authorities involved with resolving similar situations pretend not to notice this newly-introduced reality of Syrian women. The struggle of the Syrian feminist movement to lift the reservations enforced by the State on some CEDAW provisions and the lived reality of Syrian women during the conflict, have all gone with the wind to appease the tribal or sectarian sheikhs, Al Hayat concluded. )Al Hayat, September 14, 2017(

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AUB first in the region in graduate’s employability

14-9-2017

Three Lebanese universities were ranked among the best in the region according to the 2018 British QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) for the top universities in the world. They are, the American University of Beirut (AUB), Saint Joseph University (USJ) and the Lebanese American University (LAU). The AUB was classified as the best university in graduates’ employability in the region and among the top globally. The QS ranking rated AUB 41 this year in employability up from 40 points last year and was placed No. 1 in the MENA region for the second consecutive year. To note, the QS Ranking is an annual classification for higher education institutions worldwide honoring those that are actively committed to preparing students for employment. The rankings are based on performance indicators across four areas, including research, teaching, employability and internationalization. )Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, September 14, 2017(

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Made-in-Lebanon agriculture goods to Iran

13-9-2017

The minister of agriculture, Ghazi Z3aiter received yesterday the Iranian Ambassador to Beirut, Mohamad Fath Ali, accompanied by the commercial attache, and discussed ways of strengthening cooperation and exchange of expertise in many areas. The two sides reached an agreement which provides for the export of a number of made-in-Lebanon agricultural products to the Islamic Republic of Iran and the import of certain commodities from Iran. They also discussed matters related to agriculture and livestock resources. Z3aiter will reportedly visit Iran in the next two months to sign memorandums of understanding and follow up the implementation of previously signed MOUs in the interest of both countries.  (Al Diyar, September 13, 2017)

 

Previous related news:
Meeting with Syrian agriculture minister shortly to boost trade
Syrian-Lebanese economic cooperation away from cabinet’s approval
Crisis of agricultural exports to Syria eases amidst a slight regression in foreign trade deficit
 

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14% growth in tourism entries to Lebanon

13-9-2017

Lebanese President Michel Aoun lauded yesterday efforts to promote the tourism sector in the country via projects under preparation, including reducing the costs of incoming Middle East Airline tickets. Aoun, who was speaking during meeting with tourism minister, Avedis Guidanian, and the ministry’s director general, Nada Sardouk, disclosed that he promised a favorable touristic season and kept his promise. Aoun stressed the need to secure the safety and comfort of travelers through upgrading the services industry, pointing to a number of undertakings in this direction, most notably the expansion of Beirut’s international airport. The President also underlined the importance of winter tourism, particularly from Scandinavian countries. “Lebanon needs a lot, and the Lebanese people are very demanding,” Aoun stated, adding, “The country was left with an inopportune inheritance, mostly seen in poor roads that need rehabilitation, and we have started implementing some schemes to this effect.” For his part, Guidanian revealed high figures recorded this year by the tourism industry. The number of arrivals to Lebanon excluding Lebanese expats, Palestinians and Syrians, has reached 1,688,000 persons last year, compared to 1,300,000 until now and there are 4 more months ahead of us to the end of the year, with a limited 14% of growth, the minister said. He anticipated the number of arrivals to touch 2 million should it retain the same upward trend. )Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, Al Diyar, September 13, 2017(

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Feminist music band sings about reality of Egyptian women

13-9-2017

In an interesting article, L’Orient Le Jour featured Bint-al-Masarwa underground music band led by three Egyptian women with the aim to defy gender stereotypes. Marina, Maryam and Esraa produce music in the Arabic language that dissects and documents lived experiences of women in the Egyptian society and laying bare the gender-based discrimination, particularly dominant among least advantaged communities. The three young ladies are currently preparing for the launch of their new album, seeking to secure the necessary funding that could reach USD 12,000. On the projected album, Esraa explained, that it presents the experiences of marginalized women in the Upper Egypt governorates of Saeed, who are not fortunate enough to communicate their suffering, noting that the first album addressed the concerns and demands of urban women. Marina, for her part, said they organized workshops for women in the Saeed areas to allow women to to voice their fears and concerns on issues, like domestic violence, racism, harassment and the dominating patriarchal society. The new CD will reportedly be named ‘Mazghouna’, a term widely in use in the Governorate of Minya and it targets battered women. The purpose is to inspire females to break up free from the hegemony of men. (L’Orient Le Jour, September 13, 2017)

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Sectarian bickering delays the appointment of the new director of cooperatives

12-9-2017

After the decision of the Shura Council of May 31 to suspend the execution of an order by minister of agriculture, Gazi Z3aiter, giving the Director of Cooperatives, Gloria Abu Zeid, a forced leave and appointing a replacement (http://lkdg.org/ar/node/16444 ), the media reported last week that Abu Zeid’s replacement was on the agenda of the recent Cabinet session but was subsequently dropped at a personal request from the minister. The latter reportedly decided to refer the file to the president of the republic and the prime minister, recalling that the Z3aiter-Abu Zeid dispute has turned sectarian. On the other hand, Al Modon electronic portal, citing informed sources, pointed to the possibility of assigning the head of the Department of Packaging and Cooling at the Directorate of Livestock, Saeed Aoun, as an acting director general of the Cooperatives pending the appointment of the director, as proposed by Zoaieter. Ministerial sources in turn said Abu Zeid’s status remains unclear until now, hinting that she could return to her previous post as head of the Green Plan project. Al Modon also mentioned that Abu Zeid is not allowed access to her office at the ministry of agriculture awaiting the Cabinet’s final decision on the matter. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, September 7, 2017)

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