Nisrine Chahine, the unionist teacher fired by the Minister of Education for her participation in a popular uprising demonstration. (Courtesy of: Michel Hallak/file)
The State Council on Thursday suspended the controversial decision of caretaker Education Minister Abbas Halabi to dismiss contract teacher Nisrine Chahine.
Chahine's dismissal after 11 years working in the public sector had been justified by the ministry saying that her services were no longer needed. But the decision was denounced by other teachers and civil society members, as she was known for involvement in the popular protest movement and union activity.
The "Pioneers of Justice" group had appealed the minister's dismissal of Nisrine Chahine to the State Council.
Haytham Ezzo, a lawyer and coordinator from the group, confirmed the State Council's suspension decision to L'Orient-Le Jour. He said the suspension of Chahine's dismissal is an intermediate step pending a final decision.
In general, when such a suspension is decided by the State Council, it means that it is heading towards a final decision of cancellation, the lawyer said. However, the processing time is often long and can take up to a year.
A binding decision
Ezzo pointed out that the Council's decision is binding on the government, according to Article 93 of the Council's regulations. "Anyone who uses his or her authority or influence to block or delay the implementation of the Council's decision is liable to prosecution and a fine," he said.
With her dismissal suspended, Chahine can now return to her job.
"I won the case. The State Council has decided with immediate effect to suspend the arbitrary decision of Education Minister Abbas Halabi against me," she tweeted. "This case proves to me that there are still good things in Lebanon and in justice," she added, thanking the lawyers of the "Pioneers of Justice" for submitting their appeal.
ربحت الدعوى??? حكم مجلس شورى الدولي بوقف فوري لتنفيذ قرار وزير التربية عباس الحلبي التعسفي بحقي,اثبتلي هالقضاء اليوم انو بعد في خير بلبنان وفي عدل???
— nisrine chahine (@nisrinechahin) November 24, 2022
شكرا يارب وشكرااا لمحامي رواد العدالة اللي قدموا الطعن الف شكر وشكرا لكل مين وقف معي وقفة حق??#وزير_التربية#قضاء
After Chahine's dismissal, which was announced shortly before the start of the school year, teachers went on strike on the second day of classes and organized a sit-in in front of the Education Ministry in Beirut.
