Monday , 25 September 2023
Background and Context
In August 2023, against the backdrop of the tragic August 4 Beirut blast anniversary, an intriguing phenomenon unfolded among Lebanese politicians. A staggering 50% of Lebanese Members of Parliament (MPs) chose the path of silence on social media. But what lies beneath this silence? Is it an expression of their satisfaction with the current absence of justice? During this period, 63 MPs spoke out about the Beirut blast through 88 statements posted on their social media accounts. These statements constitute a remarkable 81% of all human rights-related statements shared by MPs in the month of August 2023.
As with previous reports, this compilation focuses on statements made by MPs in support of human rights. Throughout our daily monitoring in August 2023, there were numerous instances where MPs expressed views that ran counter to human rights principles. Consequently, a new section has been added to this report, located at the conclusion, which specifically identifies those MPs who exhibited discriminatory behavior and standpoints. These MPs are labeled as "poor performers."
Methodology
In August 2023, a record-breaking number 128 statements were collectively issued by 65 Lebanese MPs on their individual X (formerly known as Twitter) and Facebook accounts. This marks the highest volume of statements observed since our monitoring began, covering the period from August 1 to August 31, 2023.
These statements have been categorized into the following topics:
Data Display
It is essential to acknowledge that the data collected during this process may not be exhaustive. Nonetheless, despite its inherent limitations, the gathered data enables us to formulate hypotheses concerning the discourse surrounding human rights issues. This analysis specifically focuses on journalists’ rights and freedom of speech within the public political discourse during August 2023.
Figure 1. Distribution of data across Members of Parliament
Figure 2. Distribution of data across political parties and groups
Figure 3. Distribution of data based on group type
Figure 4. Distribution of data across theme of statement
Table 1. Distribution of data across theme of statement and group name
Analysis
In August 2023, there were a total of 88 statements made by MPs, with a significant focus on remembering the August 4, 2020 Beirut blast. Notably, ten statements were dedicated to defending freedom of expression, with five of them addressing the unlawful arrest of the comedian Nour Hajjar. The third most prominent topic was the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals, with a total of seven statements.
To gain a deeper understanding of which political groups were the most vocal during August 2023, we can examine the total count of statements made by each group. The following table provides an overview of these findings:
Table 2. Ranking based on absolute numbers - five political groups with highest numbers of statements
Table 3. Ranking based on relative numbers - from the political group with the highest percentage of members who made statements to the one with the lowest percentage
Table 4. Ranking of the top-10 MPs who shared most statements from June 2022 till August 2023
Just as in the previous month, MP Mark Daou maintained his position as the most actively engaged MP in August 2023, delivering a total of ten statements. MP Paula Yacoubian secured the second position for the month with eight statements.
When we examine the cumulative count of statements shared since June 1, 2022, a consistent pattern emerges, with MPs Mark Daou, Halimé Kaakour, and Ibrahim Mneimneh solidifying their positions as the three leading MPs. This ranking has remained unchanged since January 2023.
The consistency of MPs’ statements is an important factor to consider. MP Daou has demonstrated a steady dedication by consistently addressing human rights matters in 13 out of the 15 months under observation. Similarly, MP Mneimneh and MP Kaakour have contributed their perspectives through statements in 11 out of these 15 months.
“Poor Performers”: Anti Human Rights Standpoints
The Homophobes
MPs Adib Abdel Massih and Edgard Traboulsi have made explicit statements expressing their opposition to LGBTQIA+ individuals, arguing that their existence contradicts religious convictions. MP Abdel Massih, for instance, withdrew his support for amending article 534 of the Lebanese criminal code, which currently criminalizes sexual intercourse deemed “against nature”. Meanwhile, MP Traboulsi went as far as suggesting that LGBTQIA+ supporters were part of an agenda aiming to legalize pedophilia and sexual relations with animals.
While this discriminatory stance has long been prevalent among the majority of Lebanese public officials, August 2023 witnessed a notable escalation in attacks on the fundamental human rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals. Several public figures bills aimed at criminalizing same-sex relations and punish anyone who promotes homosexuality with imprisonment. One such proposal was put forth by MP Ashraf Rifi. For this reason, MP Rifi has been removed from the overall ranking of contributors to the human rights debate. Additionally, members of the Hezbollah-affiliated parliamentary bloc used incendiary homophobic language, with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah expressing his position by stating, “We must reject this normalization. We should no longer use the term ‘homosexuality’ but ‘abnormality’ to describe the ugliness of this act.”
The Xenophobes
MP Elias Jradeh has introduced a law proposal that is not only discriminatory but also in clear violation of international law. Under this proposal, Syrian citizens living clandestinely or registered with the UNHCR will be denied the opportunity to obtain legal status in the country within one year of this bill’s adoption. Instead, they would be designated as illegal residents, subject to potential arrest by the Public Prosecution, and face the possibility of forced repatriation to Syria.