A husband detained after beating his wife!

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On May 31, The Daily Star reported: “A husband who had been abusing his wife for over a year was detained Friday, the first time the law against family violence was enforced.
Public Prosecutor Bilal Dennawi ordered the detention of a man, whose identity remains unknown, for 48 hours after an investigation showed that he had been abusing his wife. The order for the arrest was issued in line with the recently passed controversial law to protect women against domestic violence.

The man has also been ordered to pay his wife’s medical examination fee and return the couple’s 7-month-old daughter to the victim, in accordance with Article 11 of the law.”

This case is the first since the law against domestic violence was passed in the parliament and KAFA considered it as the first victory for family law.

The husband, who has been detained on Friday, will be held in custody for 48 hours and KAFA was worried that a protection order will not be issued before Monday due to administrative regulations.

Fortunately, yesterday the judge of urgent matters issued a protection order for the victim and her child.

This case highlights a weakness in the new law and urges for a quick amendment. As a matter of fact, the judge of urgent matters is the only one entitled to issue the lengthy protection order, and he is not on call for 24 hours a day. KAFA has requested to handle the protection orders by the public prosecutor since his time is more flexible.

The new law still needs adjustments. The date of the detention should not determine the fate of the victim.

Rihab

To read about this case.

To read the protection order. 

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Why the Lebanese University is a chance...

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Every year, a lot of serious issues are raised regarding the Lebanese University. Most of them – if not all – are related to political interferences. In fact, it has been like forever since politicians took the prerogatives of the university board. Since then, no nomination has been possible without politicians meddling in. The failure of the government to upgrade 574 contract professors into permanent ones has urged the head of the university, Dr Adnan Sayyed Hussein, to call for a strike in an attempt to regain the academic prerogatives and protect the Lebanese University against any political interference. The problem regarding the appointment of full professors proves that there is a clash of interests between politics and academics.

I am not going to investigate if the 574 contract professors are worth being upgraded or not. Much was said (especially in Assafir newspaper which reported many “fishy” situations regarding the “academic” list and the “political” list). I am going to remind each one of us about the importance of the institution that has been the victim of many administrative and political abuses. The Lebanese University, sole public institution for higher education, counts around 75 000 students in its 6 sections. Most of them cannot afford the extravagant tuition fees of the private universities that are estimated by hundreds in Lebanon, and aren't monitored by the government – which eventually leads to huge raises every year (For a recent matter, check AUB and LAU’s tuition fees raises that led to students’ strikes). So for 75 000 students coming from everywhere, the Lebanese University is a chance: if the Lebanese University didn't exist, they wouldn't be able to get a chance to be admitted in a higher education institution. Or, they would spend their lives paying off extravagant mortgages cumulated through years since their first class at any private university.

I am not against private universities. But I am against the sabotage and abolition of the only chance of education for 75 000 students.

Oh, and for the record, I am a Lebanese University graduate. I couldn't be prouder of that. The Lebanese University was a chance for me. It is a chance for many of us. Public and free education is a right and it is our duty to protect it against “private educational corporations” that want to rip you off and against politicians who are contributing to this conspiracy. A proud and developed state is the one that has confidence in its public institutions, mostly in its public university.

Pascale Asmar

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My Story With Paris

Did you ever experience  hostility toward something without having a reason? If yes, you will understand exactly my complicated relation with Paris.

Last year, I visited Paris for the first time and I had a great time with my friends. Everything about this city was stunning and striking. Walking down its streets gave me the feeling of travelling in time, every building has a story and every corner is a part of history.

The Eiffel Tower with its lighting and 2.5 million bolts did not fascinate me. I cannot deny its beauty when lighted at night or its perfection in the daylight with the surrounding fountains and lakes. Regardless the inimitability of this Tower, I cannot see how it defines Paris.

Paris, is the city of history. The huge buildings with their captivated architecture stand there witnessing the flow of time, reflecting the greatness of France through ages and creating a poetic atmosphere that leaves you feeling out of space.  It comes a moment when you cannot but wonder: “Is that real?”

Photo credits: ACE shooting

The tour on the Seine is one of my best souvenirs there. On its banks, Paris looks so natural and pumps with life. Bridges over the Seine create a wider horizon and the sunlight reflection over the water charms you and leaves you out of words.

This city is beyond beautiful, it looks like it came out of dream. Despite that, I could not love it. Despite all my effort to throw away my prejudgments, to forget that I do not like France or the French language, to enjoy to the maximum this mixture of history and modernity, the bitter taste of eeriness never left me.

When I came back from Paris, I tried to understand what I really did not like about this city and I ended up discovering the truth. I do not hate Paris. I am just jealous of it.

I am jealous because I wish Beirut were not that crowded with cars so I could walk freely in the streets….

I am jealous because I wish Beirut did not have power outages so I could always enjoy its beauty….

I am jealous because I wish Lebanese people were calmer so I won’t have to hear people shouting for the stupidest things.

I am jealous because I wish Lebanese people took care of the environment so we would save the green Lebanon.

 I am jealous because I wish Lebanon respected human rights so anyone of us could enjoy his freedom…

I am jealous because my friends went to Paris in order to finish their degrees instead of staying here… I am scared that this city would put them under its spell and they will never come back.

Yes, I despise Paris for all the reasons that make it a better city than Beirut… I despise Paris because every time I remember it I understand how much we are ruining our country… I despise Paris because it reminds me that change comes from revolution, a revolution we are failing to start… I despise Paris for all the reasons that makes it more adorable than Beirut! 

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The Lebanese General Security MA BIO2TA3!

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Lebanese director and actor Lucien Bou Rjeily was denied his right as a Lebanese citizen to get his passport. According to Bou Rjeily (repost from Stop Cultural Terrorism page on FB):  “The Lebanese General Security today (May 21, 2014) confiscated my passport and refused to renew it, which means I’m no longer allowed to leave Lebanon to perform in the festival: the reason? - They categorically refused to give me a reason... I pleaded for an answer but they kept refusing to give the reason... they said that we will revert back to you in the coming month or month and a half and they hinted "you should know why... something that happened in 2013". 

So it seems it is payback time for fighting against censorship and corruption in his banned play “Bto2ta3 aw ma bto2ta3”.

The Lebanese law is very clear about the rights of all citizens but it seems that the General Security forces have their own way of following and respecting them.

I am not going to start cursing the country. We did it to ourselves. We allowed such wrong behaviors to occur, again and again, gave on our basic rights since ever. Didn’t we shut up after Lebanese deputes extended their own mandate illegally (except for an uprising from courageous young people who got beaten up for demanding to abide by the law)? Don’t we act as if it’s none of our business when we see their corruption since “b3ide 3n dahre bassita” and “what can we do, Hol henne?” Don’t we get carried away by the Zaim or the religious figure’s demands instead of seeing clearly what is rightful and correct?

An uprising against corruption, censorship and dictatorship is a must. The current system with all its elements ma bio2ta3!

Pascale Asmar

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Husband and Husband

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"On May 3rd, Georges Massaad, a Lebanese guy from Zahleh, got married to his partner, Renek Jorgenson, in San Francisco. George’s parents attended the wedding to give him their blessings, while his dad carried him on his shoulders to dance (Lebanese style). Congrats w 3a 2bel el 3ayzeen!" 

Source Beirut gay blog.

Two days ago when I first heard about this marriage, I didn't really believe it!  Who would?

Who can believe that a Lebanese man got married to another man and his parents attended the marriage and gave their blessings?

George, you are very lucky to have such a family. They loved you and accepted you without conditions. Now they will be facing this society and treated as contagious. Now they will be asked to feel ashamed for having such a son and accepting such a marriage. The war just began!
George Massaad and Renek Jorgenson are now Husband and Husband by the name of law, by the name of love and by the name of freedom.
George didn't commit any crime by marrying his lover, we do a crime when we deny someone's right to marry, or to have a decent life. This marriage didn't affect anyone of us and it brought happiness to these two men.
To all those who think that this marriage is disgusting, that gay people should seek and hide,and  that "these creatures" who are "against nature" should live in the shadow, I want to say "Nobody can force you to accept gays but please let them live!"

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Lets make a change... Who is in?

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We ask all  day long for things we don't have, for things we wish to have...
We nag on the unfairness, on the inequality...
We blame our country, the government, the people around us... BUT we never ever blame our self!

Lets make a change... Who is in?

Rihab

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