(Credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — Legal Agenda on Thursday filed an appeal before the Shura Council to overturn Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi’s decision to prevent gatherings that “promote homosexuality,” Legal Agenda reported Monday.
Here’s what we know:
• On June 24, Mawlawi wrote in a letter sent to the General Directorate the Internal Security Forces, “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.” June is the LGBTQ+’s community’s pride month, during which the community typically organizes a variety of events aimed at celebrating and promoting its place in society.
• In a Twitter post, Legal Agenda said that Mawlawi’s decision has led to the cancelation of gatherings that stand against the “discriminatory policies against the queer community.” Legal Agenda also pointed out that the minister’s decision was also followed by “hate speech and incitement against gay people.”
• “The importance of the appeal is blocking the policies that limit the freedom of expression, belief and gathering and [blocking] incitement against marginalized groups,” the Twitter post also said, adding that the decision represents “an attempt from the ruling class to divert the attention [of the public]” by playing identity politics with the goal of distracting from the sociological and political struggles.”
• Legal Agenda said the appeal relied on the importance for the state to abide by a neutral position towards religions with respect to the [principle] of the freedom of belief.”
• The head of litigation at Legal Agenda told L’Orient Today on Monday that the organization made the appeal on Thursday within the deadline of two months to make such an appeal after a decision is made.