Lebanon: Interior Minister bans celebration of "Pride Day"
The Lebanese Interior Minister has asked the police to prevent all celebrations of "Pride Day" on June 25, 2022. AP - Hassan Ammar
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1 min
Considered the most open country in the Arab world, Lebanon remains tolerant of the LGBT+ community.
This Saturday, the Minister of the Interior ordered the police to prevent activities related to the celebration of the “month of pride”.
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With our correspondent in Beirut,
Paul Khalifeh
It was under pressure from the highest Sunni religious body, Dar al-Fatwa, that the Minister of the Interior decided to crack down on the LGBT+ community.
The Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Abdel Latif Deriane, adopts strong positions against relations described by Lebanese law as "against nature".
The Sunni dignitary assured in a speech that Dar al-Fatwa "
would not allow the legalization of homosexuality
", which remains penalized in Lebanon.
Interior Minister Bassam Mawlaoui, who is a Sunni judge, ordered security forces to prevent gatherings that "
promote the phenomenon of unnatural sexual relations
".
This extreme measure comes after the broadcast on social networks of calls for the organization of activities celebrating the international day of “pride”.
For the Minister, the measures he has ordered do not prejudice freedom of expression because the
LGBT "
phenomenon " constitutes, according to him, "
a violation of the habits and traditions
" of Lebanese society and is "
contrary to the principles monotheistic religions
.
"
What the minister calls the traditions and tenets of heavenly religions are inherited prejudices that suppress the rights of thousands of citizens
," human rights lawyer Nizar Saghieh countered.
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Lebanon
LGBT+