NA-AM lil HIWAR

Citizen on Stage

Nahwa al-Muwatiniya — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:37:00 +0000

Nahwa al Muwatiniya is pleased to invite you to an open dialogue session with theatre director, writer, and actor:

Sharif Abdunnur

Titled:

Citizen on Stage

ِAbdunnur is the founder of Masrah al Arab (Theatre of the Arabs) and author of “Laughter under the Bombs” a book about his drama therapy experience with children from South Lebanon during the July war in 2006. Abdunnur will speak about his definition of citizenship and how he fulfilled it through his vision of theatre and activism.

Join us in this lively and informal debate!
PLACE: Café Yet on Hadi Nasrallah Boulevard (intersection with Sfeir bridge) next to Pizza Plus, facing BLOM bank - Dahieh
DATE: Monday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m. sharp

تتشرّف جمعيّة نحو المواطنيّة بدعوتكم للمشاركة في حوار مفتوح وصريح مع المخرج والكاتب والممثل المسرحي :

شريف عبد النور

تحت عنوان:

مواطن على المسرح

شريف عبد النور هو مؤسس مسرح العرب ومؤلف "الضحك تحت الٌصف"، كتاب عن تجربته مع أطفال الجنوب في مسرح المدينة خلال حرب تموز في 2006. سيتناول عبد النور تعرفته للمواطنية وكيفية ممارستها من خلال عمله ونشاطه المسرحي.

المكان: مقهى كافيه يات، أوتوستراد السيد هادي نصرالله، تقاطع جسر الصفير، مقابل بنك لبنان والمهجر
الزمان: الأثنين، 5 أيار في تمام الساعة 7:30 مساء

نرجو الملاحظة أنه سوف تنعقد جلسات نعم للحوار أيام الأثنين بالتتابع بين المكانين التاليين:
*مقهى 961—شارع الجميزة
كلّ ثاني ورابع نهار إثنين من الشهر: 31 آذار، 14 نيسان، 28 نيسان
* قهوة كافيه يات—أتوستراد هادي نصراللـه (تقاطع جسرالصفير)
كلّ أوّل وثالث نهار إثنين من الشهر: 7 نيسان، 21 نيسان، 5 أيار

For more information:
01 354466
03 562478

When Theatre Breaks Taboos

Nahwa al-Muwatiniya — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:28:00 +0000

“Whenever a taboo is broken, something good happens, something vitalizing.”
Henry Miller, American writer

Nahwa al Muwatiniya is pleased to invite you to an open dialogue session with theatre director:

Ms. Lina Khoury

Titled:
When Theatre Breaks Taboos

Khoury is the writer and director of the controversial and daring Lebanese play “Haki Niswan” (women’s talk) which tackles women related issues, mainly dealing with sexuality.

Join us in this lively and informal debate!
PLACE: 961 Beer on Gemayzé Street (next to Doculand)
DATE: Monday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. sharp

تتشرّف جمعيّة نحو المواطنيّة بدعوتكم للمشاركة في حوار مفتوح وصريح مع المخرجة المسرحية

لينا خوري

تحت عنوان
عندما يتحدّى المسرح المحرّمات

خوري كاتبة ومخرجة مسرحية "حكي نسوان" التي تناقش وتعالج بجرأة وشفافية حياة المرأة اللبنانية ومشاكلها، وبالأخصّ الجنسية منها.

المكان: مقهى 961 في شارع الجميزة - قرب دوكولاند -
الزمان: الإثنين، 28 نيسان في تمام الساعة 7:30 مساءً-

نرجو الملاحظة أنه سوف تنعقد جلسات نعم للحوار أيام الأثنين بالتتابع بين المكانين التاليين:
*مقهى 961—شارع الجميزة
كلّ ثاني ورابع نهار إثنين من الشهر: 31 آذار، 14 نيسان، 28 نيسان
* قهوة كافيه يات—أتوستراد هادي نصراللـه (تقاطع جسرالصفير)
كلّ أوّل وثالث نهار إثنين من الشهر: 7 نيسان، 21 نيسان، 5 أيار

For more information:
01- 354466
03- 562478

A Reporter's Dilemma: News vs. Views

Nahwa al-Muwatiniya — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 09:58:00 +0000

“The media is the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent.”
Malcolm X

Nahwa al Muwatiniya is pleased to invite you to an open dialogue session with two journalists and reporters:

Mr. Riad Kobeissi, New TV
Mr. Charbel Abboud, Future TV

Titled:

A Reporter’s Dilemma:

News vs. Views

Join us in this lively and informal debate!
PLACE: Café Yet on Hadi Nasrallah Boulevard (intersection with Sfeir bridge) next to Pizza Plus, facing BLOM bank - Dahieh
DATE: Monday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. sharp

تتشرّف جمعيّة نحو المواطنيّة بدعوتكم للمشاركة في حوار مفتوح وصريح مع الصحافيين:
الأستاذ رياض قبيسي - مراسل تلفزيون الجديد

الأستاذ شربل عبود - مراسل تلفزيون المستقبل

تحت عنوان:

معضلة المراسل: الخبر أم الرأي؟

المكان: مقهى كافيه يات، أوتوستراد السيد هادي نصرالله، تقاطع جسر الصفير، مقابل بنك لبنان والمهجر
الزمان: الأثنين، 21 نيسان في تمام الساعة 7:30 مساء

نرجو الملاحظة أنه سوف تنعقد جلسات نعم للحوار أيام الأثنين بالتتابع بين المكانين التاليين:
*مقهى 961—شارع الجميزة
كلّ ثاني ورابع نهار إثنين من الشهر: 31 آذار، 14 نيسان، 28 نيسان
* قهوة كافيه يات—أتوستراد هادي نصراللـه (تقاطع جسرالصفير)كلّ أوّل وثالث نهار إثنين من الشهر: 7 نيسان، 21 نيسان، 5 أيار

The War as We Lived it

Nahwa al-Muwatiniya — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:57:00 +0000

"Memory is the antidote to repetition of the wars.”
Ghassan Mkheiber

In commemoration of the Lebanese civil war, Nahwa al Muwatiniya is please to invite you to an open dialogue session with Mrs. Wadad Halwani, president of the Committee of the Families of the Disappeared, and Mr. Assaad Chaftari, former militia intelligence chief during the civil war, titled:

The war as we lived it
Testimonials and confessions on the civil war

Come and share your personal experiences and feelings about the Lebanese civil war in this transparent and uncensored dialogue; let us remember, commemorate, and reconciliate.

PLACE: 961 on Gemayze Street (next to Doculand)

DATE: Monday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. sharp

Please mark your calendar. Naam lil Hiwar will alternate on Mondays between the following places:

961 on Gemayze Street:
Every other Monday on March 31, April 14, and April 28

Café Yet on Hadi Nasrallah Boulevard (intersection with Sfeir bridge) next to Pizza Plus, facing BLOM bank - Dahieh
Every other Monday on April 7, April 21, May 5

For more information: 03-562478 or 01-354466
info@na-am.org

بمناسبة ذكرى الحرب الأهلية اللبنانية وإيماناً منّا بمبدأ "تنذكر ل ما تنعاد"، تدعوكم جمعيّة نحو المواطنيّة إلى حوار مفتوح وصريح مع السيدة وداد حلواني، رئيسة لجنة أهالي المخطوفين والسيد أسعد شفتري، رئيس مخابرات سابق في الميليشيا خلال الحرب الأهلية، تحت عنوان:

الحرب كما عشناها
شهادات واعترافات عن الحرب الأهلية

شاركونا تجاربكم الشخصية ومعاناتكم خلال الحرب في هذا الحوار الشفاف لنتذكّر و نعتبر ونتصالح...

المكان: مقهى 961 في شارع الجميزة ( قرب دوكولاند) -

الزمان: : الأثنين، 14 نيسان في تمام الساعة 7:30 مساءً-

نرجو الملاحظة أنه سوف تنعقد جلسات نعم للحوار أيام الأثنين بالتتابع بين المكانين التاليين:

*مقهى 961—شارع الجميزة
كلّ ثاني ورابع نهار إثنين من الشهر: 31 آذار، 14 نيسان، 28 نيسان

* قهوة كافيه يات—أتوستراد هادي نصراللـه (تقاطع جسرالصفير)
كلّ أوّل وثالث نهار إثنين من الشهر: 7 نيسان، 21 نيسان، 5 أيار

للمزيد من المعلومات:562478 03
01 354466
info@na-am.org

Hiwar with Nasri al Sayegh on secularism

Nahwa al-Muwatiniya — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:15:00 +0000

Nahwa al Muwatiniya is pleased to invite you to a Hiwar session with Mr. Nasri al-Sayegh titled:

Secularism in Lebanon: joining the sectarian system or overthrowing it?

Mr. Nasri al-Sayegh will speak about the campaign for secularism and its prospects in Lebanon. He is a writer and a journalist in several newspapers and magazines in France and Lebanon. He was the editor-in-chief of several newspapers and magazines, last of which Al-Safir newspaper in 2001. His books include: “If I were a Jew” and “Bowling in Baghdad.”
He is also one of the founders of “Maison Laïque” (“the Secular House”) which opened in February 2008. The house seeks to be a platform for secular individuals wishing to express their thoughts, ideas, and culture through music, art, and literature.

Please join Nahwa al Muwatiniya for this lively and informal discussion:

PLACE: Café Yet on Hadi Nasrallah Boulevard (intersection with Sfeir bridge ) next to Pizza Plus, facing BLOM bank - Dahieh
DATE: Monday, April 7 at 7:30 p.m. sharp

NOTE: Please mark your calendar. Naam lil Hiwar will alternate on Mondays between the following places:

961 on Gemayze Street:
Every other Monday on March 31, 14 April 14, and April 28

Café Yet on Hadi Nasrallah Boulevard (intersection with Sfeir bridge) next to Pizza Plus, facing BLOM bank - Dahieh
Every other Monday on April 7, April 21, May 5

For more information: 03-562478 or 01-354466
info@na-am.org

" يا زمان الطائفيّة... خلّي إيدك عالهويّة."
زياد الرحباني

تتشرف جمعية نحو المواطنية بدعوتكم للمشاركة في حلقة حوار مع الأستاذ نصري الصايغ تحت عنوان:

العلمنة في لبنان: خرق النظام الطائفي أم الإنقلاب عليه؟

الأستاذ نصري الصايغ كاتب وإعلامي ورئيس تحرير لعدد من الصحف والمجلات بين باريس وبيروت، آخرها جريدة السفير في 2001. له عدد من المؤلفات ومنها: " لست لبنانياً بعد"، "لو كنت يهودياً"، "بولينغ في بغداد"، "القاتل إن حكى". كما وأنّه أحد مؤسّسي البيت العلماني الذي فتح أبوابه في شباط 2008.
ويسعى البيت العلماني ليكون منصّة للعلمانيين ليعبّروا عن فكرهم وثقافتهم، كتاباً ولوحة وموسيقى ويقوم بتنظيم محاضرات ونقاشات وحلقات تفكير ومعارض تشكيليّة وأمسيات شعريّة وحلقات تدريب

المكان: مقهى كافيه يات، أوتوستراد السيد هادي نصرالله، تقاطع جسر الصفير، مقابل بنك لبنان والمهجر
الزمان: : الأثنين، 7 نيسان في تمام الساعة 7:30 مساءً-

نرجو الملاحظة أنه سوف تنعقد جلسات نعم للحوار أيام الأثنين بالتتابع بين المكانين التاليين:

*مقهى 961—شارع الجميزة
كلّ ثاني ورابع نهار إثنين من الشهر: 31 آذار، 14 نيسان، 28 نيسان

* قهوة كافيه يات—أتوستراد هادي نصراللـه (تقاطع جسرالصفير)
كلّ أوّل وثالث نهار إثنين من الشهر: 7 نيسان، 21 نيسان، 5 أيار

للمزيد من المعلومات:562478 03
01 354466
info@na-am.org

Naam lil Hiwar is back!

Nahwa al-Muwatiniya — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:43:00 +0000

“Justice denied anywhere diminishes justice everywhere.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Nahwa al Muwatiniya is pleased to invite you to the re-launching session of Naam Lil Hiwar with Samar Chalak El-Hajj titled:

Drawing the line between justice and politics

El-Hajj will be discussing the case of her husband Brig.Gen Ali El-Hajj—one of the four detainees suspected in the Hariri assassination. Despite the recent controversial advice to “shut her mouth!,” she will shed light on the legal status of her husband and the grounds upon which he was arrested.

Please join Nahwa al-Muwatiniya for this lively and informal debate

PLACE: 961 on Gemayze Street (next to Doculand)

DATE: Monday, 31 March at 7:30 p.m. sharp

NOTE: Please mark your calendar. Na-aM lil-Hiwar will alternate on Mondays between the following places:

961 on Gemayze Street:
Every other Monday on 31 March, 14 April and 28 April
Café Yet on Hadi Nasrallah Boulevard (intersection with Sfeir bridge- Dahieh)
Every other Monday on 7 April, 21 April and 5 May

For more information: 03-562478 or 01-354466
info@na-am.org

Na-aM proudly presents: Hiwar tonight with Mr. Wael Kheir on Human Rights during Armed Conflicts

Nahwa al-Muwatiniya — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 08:35:00 +0000

Nahwa al Muwatiniya is pleased to invite you to join its Hiwar session on:

Human Rights during Armed Conflicts
Guest Speaker: Dr. Wael Kheir
Foundation of Human and Humanitarian Rights

This discussion will explore the rights of citizens in times of war, what are their responsibilities, how they can ask for their rights and how to approach the people responsible.

Date & Time: Monday 25 June, 2007 at 8pm
Place: Tonga- Hamra- Sourati Street, close to Evergreen

تدعوكم جمعية نحو المواطنية للمشاركة في جلستها الحوارية حول

"حقوق الإنسان خلال النزاعات المسلحة"
مع الدكتور وائل خير
مؤسسة الحق الإنساني

خلال هذه الجلسة سنبحث مع د.خير حقوق المواطنين و مسؤولياتهم في أوقات الحرب، وكيفية مطالبتهم بهذه الحقوق .

الزمان : الإثنين 25 حزيران 2007 الساعة الثامنة مساء
المكان: نادي التونغا- الحمرا – شارع سوراتي- قرب Evergreen
للمشاركة في الحوار يمكنكم زيارة الموقع الإلكتروني www.hiwar.na-am.org

A delayed summary on what happened in Hiwar 11 June

Nahwa al-Muwatiniya — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 08:32:00 +0000

Beyond Fatah Al-Islam:
Rhetoric on conflict, relief, causes & effects

Sharif Bibi, Marcy Newman, and Rania Masri

Another actual topic concerning a sudden rise of Fatah al-Islam to the spotlights gathered around a crew of active citizens at Tonga Club in Hamra.

Developments in the Palestinian camps

Speakers Sharif Bibi, Marcy Newman and Rania Masri shared their experiences in the camps as humanitarian relief workers. They introduced Nahr Al-Bared relief campaign that started as an independent group of volunteers, clubs, AUB professors and students focusing on relief work in Baddawi camp. A major flow of refugees ended up at Baddawi camp, where around 3400 families were staying at schools and private homes of the Baddawi residents. However, the number of people fleeing Nahr Al-Bared kept on increasing and the lack of accommodation drove 600 Palestinian families from North to other camps, such as Mar Elias, Al Barajneh and Sabra. Here the main focus shifted from schools and public places to homes where the bulk of the people were being placed. As a consequence, a growing need for relief work in Beirut has emerged, and international organizations have been asked to direct their resources to Beirut.

Government and Fatah Al-Islam

Since the beginning of the crisis all political leaders have considered Fatah Al Islam as a non-Palestinian group. As to any political reasons for the lack of profound relief campaigns, Ms. Newman said that PM Siniora’s main concern was to first finish operations in Nahr Al-Bared and Ein El-Hilweh camps and then focus on rebuilding the camps. What is needed in the first place is, according to Na-aM lil Hiwar guest speakers, a dialogue among the Lebanese and a separation of social work from politics. Palestinians face a lot of racism and suffer from the lack of basic civil rights. They are afraid to leave the camps because they are being constantly harassed. Therefore, awareness work towards racism should be urgently done.

Discussion

Media coverage of the events was claimed to be far from the truth and inefficient. Media does not show the number of civilians dead and, according to relief workers there are around 23 civilian casualties in addition to the lost of lives among the Fatah Al-Islam fighters and the Lebanese army.

In the course of the discussion, Marcy Newman strongly supported Samuel Hersh’s report, according to which Hariri was involved in bringing in Fatah Al-Islam to fight Shi’ia presence and thus, when the funding of the group was suddenly cut down, the members robbed a bank and the fighting started. Rania Masri stressed the point of Fatah Al-Islam not being a Palestinian group, and the funding and the cause of the conflict not originating from the Palestinian residents living in Lebanon. Most of the audience agreed upon this and considered the events an external conspiracy against Palestinians, Lebanon, and the Lebanese army.

Do not stay at home, instead, come to discuss the conflict in Na-aM Hiwar this Monday, 11 June 2007

Nahwa al-Muwatiniya — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 12:21:00 +0000

يسر جمعية نحو المواطنية دعوتكم للمشاركة في جلسة نعم للحوار بعنوان:
"ما بعد فتح الإسلام : نظرة تحقيقية عن أسباب الصراع تأثيره وأعمال الإغاثة

نستضيف في هذه الجلسة:(حسب الترتيب الأبجدي)
رانيا المصري، استاذ مساعد في علوم البيئة/ جامعة البلمند
شريف بيبي، فنان و استاذ في مدرسة الجالية الأميركية
مارسي نيومن، استاذ زائر، مركز الأبحاث والدراسات الأميركية/ الجامعة الأميركية في بيروت

الزمان : الإثنين 11 حزيران 2007 الساعة الثامنة مساء
المكان: نادي التونغا- الحمرا – شارع سوراتي- قربEvergreen

للمشاركة في الحوار يمكنكم زيارة الموقع الإلكتروني

www.hiwar.na-am.org

Nahwa al Muwatiniya is pleased to invite you to join its hiwar session on:

Beyond Fatah al-Islam: An investigative Outlook on the Conflict Causes, Relief Work, and Effects.

Guest co-Speakers (in alphabetical order):

Sharif Bibi, graphic designer and artist, teacher at the American Community School
Rania Masri, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science, University of Balamand
Marcy Newman, Visiting Professor, Center for American Studies and Research, American University of Beirut

Date & Time: Monday 11 June 2007 at 8pm
Place: Tonga- Hamra- Sourati Street, close to Evergreen

If you wish to take part in the discussion of Na-aM lil Hiwar, please visit our blog: www. hiwar.na-am.org

Hiwar 28th May 2007: Lebanese and Palestinians in the Search for Citizenship

Nahwa al-Muwatiniya — Thu, 31 May 2007 11:56:00 +0000

Hiwar on Monday 29th May 2007 was held in a new location, at Restaurant Tonga, in Hamra. Even if the streets of Beirut have been empty since the latest wave of violence and threatening events followed by the clashes in Nahr El-Bared Palestinian camp near Tripoli, the cozy Tonga and Na-aM lil Hiwar found its audience.

The topic could not have matched better the current situation: Jimmy Mouawad, researcher from the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies (LCPS) presented his comparative case study on the Lebanese and Palestinian Youth as actors of political reform. The focus of his study is set on the obstacles and challenges that either prevent or permit youth participation.

Mr. Mouawad briefly introduced the concepts of citizenship in the course of centuries, starting from Aristotle and following the development of the citizenship until today. The original Aristotelian definition of citizenship is based on the idea of individuals forming a state (in which slaves and women did not have the equal rights as the so-called “free men”). Since the second part of the 20th century the citizenship has been understood in a larger scale as combining also human rights, democratic participation and social security benefits under its umbrella.

As to Lebanon, "all Lebanese are equal and they have both rights and duties" (Article 7 of the Lebanese Constitution). People considered as “Lebanese citizens” are but only those whose parents (or to be more accurate, father) are Lebanese. Consequently, this law excludes Palestinians resident in Lebanon, even if they were born in Lebanon and in other words, would be second or even third generation residents. The legal status of a Palestinian remains one of a foreigner or a refugee and this affects e.g. the work permit and social benefits, owning any property or rather the lack of all these rights.

Based on Mouawad’s research founding, Palestinian youth are actively trying to advocate and lobby their rights and enhance their situation. They strongly believe in what they are doing but do not find much support from e.g. the Lebanese constitution and the implication of the laws by the Lebanese Government.

According to UNRWA registry, there are around 400,000 Palestinians living in Lebanon, yet, in the reality there are about 280,000 Palestinian due to the issues of the difficulty of getting a work permit and unclarities regarding ownership issues. Running a basic life turns out to be difficult for Palestinians living in Lebanon.

Present in the Hiwar were both Palestinians and Lebanese, who discussed this sensitive issue by taking different perspectives on it. Nationalization, rights, and weapons – all linked to the current situation up north – were discussed and it was agreed among the Hiwar participants that the situation in the camps is already without the current conflict a violation of human rights. Given that Palestinians are not a coherent ethnic group but have both divisions among themselves and opinion differences, they all still do agree on the common goal of having equal human rights. The Palestinian camps, or ghettos, as one might call them, were a creation of the Lebanese Government in the aftermath of the establishment of Israel back in 1948. It was supported by the PLO.

Weapons inside the camps was seen as a huge threat for the both Lebanese and Palestinians and might lead into building the gap between these two nationalities even further. As a recommendation of the Hiwar participants, the integration of the Palestinians in the Lebanese society should be critically enforced by starting with the amendment of the legislation in order to secure Palestinians’ basic rights as citizens of Lebanon.

New Hiwar Location on Monday, May 28th 2007

Nahwa al-Muwatiniya — Fri, 25 May 2007 12:02:00 +0000

Citizenship values, between the individual, the space and the State
“Comparative case study: Lebanese and Palestinian Youth”

Nahwa al-Muwatiniya is pleased to invite you to a session with Mr. Jamil Mouawad, Researcher and Program Manager of the Youth Department at the Lebanese Centre for Policy Studies, LCPS

Date & time: 28 May 2007, 8:00pm
Place: Tonga Club- Hamra- Surati Srt.-

If you wish to take part in the discussion of Na-aM lil Hiwar, please visit our blog: www. hiwar.na-am.org

نعم للحوار: قيم المواطنة بين الفرد , الجغرافية و الدولة
"دراسة حالة: الشباب اللبناني و الفلسطيني"

تتشرف جمعية نحو المواطنية بدعوتكم لحوار مع الاستاذ جميل معوض باحث و مدير برامج قسم الشباب في المركز اللبناني للدراسات.

الزمان: الإثنين28 ايار - الساعة الثامنة مساءً
المكان: نادي تونغا- الحمرا- شارع سوراتي- جانب افرغرين

Hiwar 23rd April 2007 on "Removal of Confessional Specification from the Personal Record Registration"

Nahwa al-Muwatiniya — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 13:39:00 +0000

Na-aM lil Hiwar on 23rd April bored into a sensible topic related to the sectarian society of Lebanon; Confessional specification in the personal record registration. Our guest speaker Mr. Talal El Husseini, former Adviser to the Speaker of the House, was one of the participants in formulating the Taif Accords back in 1989. Today Mr. Husseini – founding member of a CSO called Muwatinun – runs a project that aims to protect the right of the citizens to choose whether they want the confessional specification to be included in their personal record registration.

According to Mr. Husseini’s presentation, the injustice that his project is fighting against is that the religious orientation of citizens is automatically marked in the registry record without asking individuals’ approval on it. In other words, the relationship between the government and citizens is based on confessional divisions among the population. Thus the removal of the religious aspect from the personal registry would turn relationship between the citizens and the government more direct.

The proposed removal of confession would not require any law amendment because of there is a law that already considers it a legal action. The removal also would not mean abandoning one’s religion but rather drawing a line between the religion and the state affairs at the level of citizenship. According to Mr. Husseini, Priest Gregoire Haddad has already shown example by requesting the registry authorities to remove his confessional status from the personal registry.

Hiwar participants were worried about the institutions and legal procedures such as marriage, divorce and inheritance, and how the removal of confession from the personal registry would affect citizens’ rights in these cases. Another concern raised by the participants was that it would lead to a conflict between the civil and religious courts. One of the participants stated that such a removal was not needed because of the social contract, in which the Lebanese people have agreed to respect the religious plurality.

Mr. Husseini responded to the concern about the marriage, custody and divorce by emphasizing the freedom of citizen – both Muhamadeyeen and non-Muhamadeyeen – to choose whether they wanted to perform a religious or a civil marriage. By removing the confession from the personal registry, the individual would no longer be subject to the religious laws and courts, which would further strengthen civil courts and institutions. Given that inheritance is determined by family, marriage, sex, religion and sect, the proposed removal would not have an affect on it: none of the above listed determinants would not change. The already existing law guaranties a citizen a freedom to express faith or to deny personal identification with a certain religion or sect. Discrimination in the labour market based on sectarianism has been legally abolished, however, due to the strong traditional ties among religious groups, it still exists today. This issue, raised by the participants, still remains problematic and unsolved.

Hiwar 16th April 2007 on "Remembrance of Civil War"

Nahwa al-Muwatiniya — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 11:56:00 +0000

This Hiwar session, titled “Remembering the War,” took place following a landmark occasion in the modern history of Lebanon – that of Remembrance of the Civil War on 16 April. A number of events had been organized on the previous weekend by several civil society groups, some of whom had agreed to attend Na-aM lil Hiwar to discuss the groups’ role and attempts at preventing another civil war from breaking. In addition, Na-aM took participants to task by urging them to assess their readiness and willingness to forge alliances among themselves in order to amass greater power in breaking the current political deadlock.

Approximately 30 attendees included 8 guest speakers from the following groups (listed
alphabetically):

- Civil Society Movement
- "I love Life" Campaign
- Intizarat al Chareb
- Lebanese Youth Democratic Union
- Leftist Assembly for Change
- Nahnou
- Offre Joie
- Samir Kassir Foundation
- Spring Hints

All speakers agreed that the turnout of people at the commemoration events on 16 April was discouraging. They blamed such low turnout on ideological differences among the groups involved in the commemoration, historical events acting as obstacles and collective trauma in people’s memory of the war, and various organizational reasons prior to the commemoration. In suggesting other reasons for the low turnout, one of the guests went as far as making a statement that “the Lebanese people actually want civil war” in this country. Another representative argued that the problem in Lebanon is that “all people talk politics but no one knows politics”.

It was agreed upon that something should be done, but neither a common approach nor a solution was found based on the variety of ideological and organizational aspects. Sectarian regime was commonly found outdated and the civil society actors shared the same views of achieving secularist governance and a reform in the education system in order to create “one nation and one citizenship”. Additionally, it was recommended that the CSOs should meet up in order to draft a plan to boost the significance of the CSO sector. Based on the ideological differences that appeared during the discussion, a true challenge for collaboration and setting up of targets among the civil society groups seems to be the obvious lack of willingness and ability to compromise.