A press release issued by the NGO Helem to announce the postponement of a demonstration which was scheduled for June 26 in Beirut. (Credit: Twitter/@HelemLebanon)
BEIRUT — A demonstration scheduled for Sunday at 5 p.m. in front of the headquarters of the Interior Ministry in Beirut to protest a decision to ban events “promoting homosexuality” has been postponed due to "threats," according to its organizers.
Here's what we know:
• "After an increase in death threats and calls for counter-demonstrations ..., we have decided to postpone our demonstration, which will be held in the coming days," the NGO Helem, which advocates for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, wrote on its Twitter account.
• In its message, the organization calls on "law enforcement take full responsibility" for what could happen to members of the community and promises to "take all legal measures to deal with all threats.".
• Amid celebrations of Pride Month by the LGBTQ community, Mawlawi sent a letter on Friday to the General Directorate of General Security and the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces calling on security forces to prevent gatherings that "promote homosexuality."
• "After the dissemination on social networks of calls for the organization of celebrations aimed at promoting unnatural sexual relations in Lebanon, after the ministry was contacted by religious leaders who reject this phenomenon, and in view of the negative impact this can have on the individual and society (...) you are asked to take the necessary measures to prevent the holding of any celebration, meeting or gathering whose purpose is to promote this phenomenon," the letter read.
• Mawlawi also asserted that "freedom of expression cannot be invoked in this case, since it is a violation of the habits and traditions of our society, contrary to the principles of monotheistic religions."
• Lebanon's top Sunni religious figure, Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian, said that Dar Al-Fatwa (the highest Sunni authority in Lebanon) "would not allow the legalization of homosexuality or civil marriage."
• Meanwhile, a Christian group calling itself the "Soldiers of God" posted a video of its members tearing apart a billboard in which the LGBTQ rainbow flag was formed with flowers in Ashrafieh.
• The Interior Ministry's decision quickly drew criticism on social media networks.
• Lebanon criminalizes same-sex relations under Article 534 of the Penal Code. However, the Lebanese Constitution meanwhile guarantees the protection of human rights and the equality of citizens.