News

In its issue of May 31, Al Akhbar daily brought to light the ‘phone of trust’ hotline started on November 25, 2007 by the Good Shepherd Sisters in Baba Touma to help women victims of domestic violence. The newspaper wrote, that the hotline launched on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, serves as a link connecting women victims of domestic violence with the Good Shepherd. It is accessible through a public number on the following page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrustLine.GSS/. According to Al Akhbar, first thing, the caller contacts the ‘administrator of the case’, followed by a petition or form prepared for each case separately. The form is referred to a social or psychological worker, who shall take the proper decision accordingly. This can be done through over-phone counselling or personal consultation at the center. The legal advisor of the ‘phone of trust’, lawyer Saniya Yousef, told the newspaper that the monastery is an oasis for women exposed to violence or homelessness reaching the center from the different Syrian governorates or from outside Syria. The monastery, Yousef explained, provides them with shelter and social as well as psychological support, and helps solve their problems through empowerment by teaching them certain professions. (Al Akhbar, May 31, 2019)

The stories of custody of children seem to be never-ending at the Sharia courts, Al Akhbar daily reported on Saturday. The newspaper reminded its readers, that not a long time ago, Khadija Naif was jailed at Gobeiri police station for trying to see her children. Two years before, Fatmeh Hamzeh, went to prison for refusing to hand her only son to his father. And today, Hana Awada, a mother of three, is witnessing a similar fate, through a ruling issued by the Jaafari Court that reportedly deprived her of her right to her children, the newspaper said. In the details, according to Al Akhbar, it all started two years ago, when Awada won a verdict to divorce her Iraqi husband, Omar Mashhadani. Earlier, Awada filed for divorce at the Al A’azamia Personal Status Court in Baghdad and won the right of custody of her children. She carried the Iraqi verdict to the Beirut Court of Appeal where it was given an executive power substantiating the custody of her children. Unfortunately, Al Akhbar concluded, the enveloping happiness the mother felt was stolen by the Jaafari Court which ordered her to hand over her three kids to their father, upon the latter’s request.  (Al Akhbar, June 1, 2019)

In its Saturday’s issue, Al Akhbar daily highlighted the success story of Souk el Tayyib farmer’s market launched from the heart of the Lebanese capital back in 2004. Describing it as a unique venture, the newspaper wrote that Souk el Tayyib has promoted the culture of healthy eating and encouraged local agricultural products. This undertaking has generated similar activities across the country aimed to help small farmers and producers to market their goods directly to consumers through weekly encounters between rural smallholders and interested customers. Founded by Kamal Muzawaq, Souk el Tayyib spotlights the traditional cuisine in Lebanon with an attempt to revive it and empower small farmers/producers, chefs and housewives of all backgrounds and affiliations, Al Akhbar wrote. With the motto, ‘Make food not war’, Souk el Tayyib started to expand to kick off, three years later, cooking festivals inspiring people to visit the different villages to taste real Lebanese food and explore rural areas. To close, Al Akhbar mentioned that between June 5 and June 8, Souk el Tayyib will be celebrating its 15th anniversary through diverse activities in different Beiruti themes. (Al Akhbar, June 1, 2019)

The minister of tourism Avedis Guidanian said Lebanon has become a distinctive location on the global tourism map through the world’s renowned travel and tourism agencies. Guidanian, who was speaking during the concluding day of the Third Forum for Visit Lebanon in Beirut, addressed the representatives of the Arab and foreign offices saying: "For the first time, you are witnessing a new experience by visiting the country and exploring its touristic, archeological, historical and cultural landmarks.” “This,” he went on to say, “allows us to be the starting point of tourism in the Middle East and the main touristic destination in the region.” For his part, Visit Lebanon chairperson, George Freiha, said the forum is more like a promotional campaign on the global arena, for it gives us the opportunity to communicate with 50,000 agencies and tour operators. Nearly 150,000 travel and tourism companies, as well as conference and festival organizers from about 40 countries around the world, have participated and concluded around 3578 business meetings with the Lebanese private sector, at 38% increase rate from the second forum. (Al Diyar, June 1, 2019)

The Military Tribunal headed by Brigadier General Hussein Abdallah yesterday ruled in the case of ISF Anti-Cybercrime Bureau officer Suzanne Haj and hacker Elie Ghabash, on charges of framing actor Ziad Itani as an Israeli spy (https://lkdg.org/node/18082). The court unanimously voted to acquit Haj for the lack of incriminating evidence against her, and convicted her of withholding information sentencing her to 2 month imprisonment and a fine of LL200,000. Meanwhile, the hacker Ghabash was sentenced to three years of hard labor reduced to one year in prison for fabricating the case against Itani, noting that both were released on time served. In its analysis of the verdict, Al Akhbar newspaper said the ruling was not the issue, but the performance of the public prosecutor, represented by top military prosecutor Peter Germanos. The latter, Al Akhbar wrote, who is supposed to act as the state commissioner in prosecution of the defendants, has intervened to defend Haj, but from a discriminatory macho attitude against women. He noted that the ISF officer was in the middle of a scuffle with her leadership, which is uneasy, and twice as disturbing for being a woman! Germanos said Ghabash has come up with the Itani spying case idea, and went on to defend Haj in a exhaustive intervention. He refused to involve her in the offense, saying that she stood idly by, not more! Moreover, he lauded Haj’s professionalism in duty and her proficiency in detecting IT crimes. Recalling, that in a court ruling last February 7, Haj revealed that the Saudi Intelligence asked for her dismissal from the ISF because she liked a controversial tweet mocking Saudi women. She pointed out that she was interrogated to this effect, mentioning a request from the Saudi Intelligence to the ISF Directorate advising that she steps down and be punished. http://lkdg.org/node/18228. (Al Akhbar, Annahar and Al Diyar 31 May 2019)
 

British pilot, Amanda Harrison, taxied in Beirut on May 28 coming from Cyprus on a solo trip from London to Darwin, Australia. Amanda’s ‘Nothing is Impossible’ motto of the flight covers 23 countries, including Lebanon, with inspiring messages to women, as well as to cancer and dyslexia patients. A delegation from the ministry of state for the economic empowerment of women and youth welcomed the British pilot at Beirut Airport. Amal Elias, representing minister Violete Safadi, said Harrison’s trip coincides with the ministry’s goals to empower women and young people, pointing out that the British pilot is a breast cancer survivor and has launched her trip to be an inspiration for every woman around the world. Harrison for her part, addressed women saying: “Never let anything stand in the way of realizing your dreams.” She described Lebanese women as wonderful and audacious and who may have difficulties but are capable of doing anything, as she said. “I hope that I have encouraged women to go after their dream, and promoted them in the aviation industry.” (An Nahar, May 31, 2019)