News

Scores of veiled women (hijabi) staged a sit-in on Sunday in the southern town of Saida demanding the right of Hijabi Lebanese women to work in the judiciary and other public departments. Signs hoisted during the protest included, ‘Every Lebanese has the right to public posts’, ‘The freedom of belief is an absolute right’, ‘My hijab does not contradict justice’, and ‘Legal or constitutional provisos do not veto the access of hijabi women to the judiciary as stipulated by the Constitution’. In this regard, activist Layal Tufayli (student of law- Lebanese University), told Al Mustaqbal that she laments the fact that the Judiciary in Lebanon has substantiated a provision which is in explicit violation of the Constitution itself and of international conventions. She pointed to Article 7 which endorses equality between Lebanese citizens (men and women) without discrimination. To recall, the prime minister Saad Hariri has earlier on 18-1-2018 issued a circular prohibiting discrimination against hijabi women or preventing them from holding public office. (https://bit.ly/36PXcNH). (Al Mustaqbal, November 10, 2019)
 

In its issue of yesterday, Al Akhbar daily drew attention to the physical and verbal harassment by protestors against OTV correspondents covering the popular protests in the different Lebanese regions. The newspaper noted that despite the deliberate masking or removal of the logo of the television to alleviate expected backlash against them, yet, the faces of correspondents were familiar to demonstrators who continued to attack them. Al Akhbar pointed out that the videos were countless showing the persecution against the ‘orange’ tv team, including personal insults and provocative libeling. The newspaper went on to say, that in the past period, many justifications were aired, specifically by women, defending such abuses claiming that OTV correspondents were unwelcome and confrontational, which instigated further harassment. Such excuses, Al Akhbar said, had a pure political disposition hostile to the ‘resistance front’ OTB is aligned with, wondering whether this exempts them from the responsibility of justifying violence against correspondents?. (Al Akhbar, November 11, 2019)
 

The secretary general of the Syndicate of Importers and Exporters of Vegetables and Fruits, Ibrahim Tarshishi, Tarshishi said that after the opening of roads by protestors that were closed for 20 days since the start of the popular uprising, the agricultural conditions are now improving. Tarshishi who was speaking to Al Markaziya portal warned however that home-grown products have flooded local markets leading to a decline in prices by nearly 50% against their production cost. He further explained that the dumping of markets by domestic products was offset by a reduced consumption, partly for its availability, and also because the business of restaurants has plummeted below normal, in addition to a weakened consumer purchasing power. On the other hand, Tarshishi clarified that during the closure of roads, the prices of some varieties of veggies and fruits soared by almost 100% but this barely benefited farmers and small producers, except for traders and distributors of agricultural goods. Tarshishi also spoke about the crisis involving the scarcity of dollar and the resulting rise of two exchange markets. He added that farmers are selling products in Lebanese lira and paying their dues in US dollars as it is sold in the black market, and this includes fuel, fertilizers, seeds and land lease. In conclusion, Tarshishi warned that the current situation is inflicting between USD 200,000 and 500,000 in daily losses on the agriculture sector especially with the drastic decline in the export activity. (Al Diyar, November 7, 2019)
 

Women Leaders Council of Lebanon (WLC) affiliated with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, yesterday called on Lebanese authorities and society to act responsibly amidst the dire economic and the escalating risks threatening what is left of institutions in the country. WLC pointed out that the current turmoil has had a negative impact on the activity of the private sector. It urged all parties to make concessions to rescue the country before it would be too late. The WLC president, Madiha Rislan, said the cutting line between chaos and stability is national responsibility that should be exercised by all involved factions. She advised them to be tolerant, humble and realistic and to make compromises to save their country, demanding the stepping up of the formation of a conflict-free salvation government that lives up to the aspirations of the Lebanese people. (Al Diyar, November 7, 2019)