Mr. Mawlawi: For the sake of Humanity

WRITTEN BY TAREK KHALIL

28, JUNE 2022

After a few years with some glimpses of hope for advancement regarding human rights - and specifically rights of the LGBTQ+ community - there was a sense that the tension circling this issue had started to shift positively, even if only in a minimal manner. Throughout the society and public opinion, conversations between people in public and private spaces, and within the media, there was an atmosphere of growing acceptance and advocacy for these rights.
However, the agonizing reality is that instances of human rights violations related to LGBTQ+ rights are not unheard of within Lebanon. Still, we have not witnessed such an imprudent and dangerous formal decision, a decision with the power to spark extreme violence and chaos, from a government minister.

On Monday the 25th of June 2022, the minister of interior Bassam Al Mawlawi, who previously served as a judge, issued an administrative decree ordering security forces to raid and suppress any events or gatherings related to the LGBTQ+ community. This was carried out after he was instructed to do so by the Mufti, and after - according to our official sources - he did not consult with any Lebanese government official before issuing his careless decision.

Al Mawlawi’s formal statement counters the Lebanese government’s commitment to international human rights declarations and conventions, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This includes all the articles under those conventions and declarations, which impose laws protecting all human freedoms and rights, including those of expression, speech, and assembly.

More importantly, the minister of interior’s decision contradicts the preamble and both articles 7 and 8 of the Lebanese constitution, as well as multiple Lebanese court rulings in support of equal human rights for everyone.

Five years ago, judge Rabih Maalouf issued a court decision stating that “homosexuality is a natural right, not a crime”. His decision was based on the law of equality between everyone, and that every human being has the right to enjoy equal rights and freedoms; he considered that these rights are attached to all human beings themselves, and there is no need for anyone to have to earn these rights, even if this is refused by the majority of the society. He added that the use of any kind of conversion or reparative therapy is strictly prohibited. This court’s order came after 3 similar decisions, the first one issued by judge Monir Suleiman in 2009, the second issued by judge Naji Dahdah in 2014, and the third issued by judge Hisham Kantar in 2016.

What Bassam Al Mawlawi did not anticipate and has yet to recognize, are the detrimental consequences of his relinquishment regarding human rights and the influence of other opinion formers over him. Mawlawi's decision has started and will continue to cause a build up of tension, hatred, and violence towards the LGBTQ+ community; it is filled with immense antipathetic potency. As the minister of interior, Mawlawi's decree is not only officially binding to those operating under the ministry, but it also fuels the predisposed sensitive public opinion towards discriminatory violence. This type of discrimination had recently been somewhat dormant - but still always waiting to be sparked - on a societal level, but negative attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights have been recharged and it is evident through conversations between people as well the amount of misinformation and disinformation within the media.

The purpose of the ministry of interior, and all the divisions under it, is to protect and uphold the rights and security of every human living in Lebanon; their purpose is not to target and oppress individuals and communities based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background.

Going forward, incidents of human rights violations against members of the LGBTQ+ community will be known to have been instigated - whether directly or indirectly - by the minister of interior’s statement and its emerging repercussions.

Mr. Mawlawi, if you are fortuitously wondering how you can ameliorate the chaos you created, the answer is easy. Revoke the order, and stop allowing religious institutions to make your governmental decisions.

An additional part of our humble and personal advice to you, is to practice love and empathy no matter how powerful you become, and no matter who stands behind you or in your way. Every human should be cherished and regarded for who they are, because every unique human is a gift. We believe in the process of empathy, both with those who have been wronged and those who have wronged others. Everyone has been on the two sides. Therefore, we invite you to amend the resentment your statement has amplified, and to uphold the rights and security of every single person living in Lebanon - with no exceptions, or any type of discrimination.

Every human has an innate freedom to be who they want to be, to love whoever they want to love, and to express whatever they feel.