Lebanon--Christian Persecution in Lebanon

Religious Atmosphere:

70% of this country is Muslim, with Sunni, Shi'a, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite, and Nusayri background. 30% of the country is Christian, including Maronite, Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholics, Armenian Orthodox (Gregorians), Armenian Catholics, Syrian Orthodox (Jacobites), Syrian Catholics, Assyrians (Nestorians), Chaldeans, Copts, and evangelicals (including Protestant groups such as the Baptists, Seventh-Day Adventists, and Friends). Ba'hai, Buddhist, and Hindu alignments are not recognized by the state, although followers are allowed to worship.

Extremist Groups:

• Hezbollah - Radical Shi'a group formed in Lebanon; dedicated to the creation of Iranian-style Islamic republic in Lebanon and removal of all non-Islamic influences from the area. Strongly anti-West and anti-Israel. Closely allied with, and often directed by, Iran but may have conducted operations that were not approved by Tehran.

Government:

• The government is a republic.
     
• The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, except in the case of public disturbances.
     
• The government allows private religious schooling.
    
• The government requires religious affiliation to be encoded on national identity cards.
    
• Individuals may change religion if the head of the chosen religious group approves, maintained the chosen religion is one of the 18 government-approved religions.
     
• Article 473 states that one who "blasphemes God publicly" will face one year of imprisonment

Recent Actions:

• May 6, 2003 - A Jordanian convert to Christianity was killed in a bomb blast that was believed to target a European missionary couple living in Tripoli. Jamil Ahmed al-Rifai was killed instantly when a 4.5 pound bomb exploded in a garden behind the apartment complex where both al-Rifai and the missionary couple lived. (Open Doors)
    
• November 21, 2002 - A US Christian & Missionary Alliance medical worker was shot to death as she went to work at a Christian maternity clinic in Sidon. No group has yet taken responsibility for the murder of Bonnie Weatherall, but it is believed Sunni Muslims were behind the killing. The maternity clinic where Mrs. Weatherall worked had received various threats in the weeks prior to her death. (ANS)
      
• August 21, 2001 - 75 Christian dissidents were released by the army of Lebanon. (see August 2001) (CWN)
     
• August 16, 2001 - Christian journalist Antoine Bassil of MBC was arrested by Lebanese security in a crackdown against Christian dissidents critical of Syria's continued influence in the country. (CWN)
     
• August 2001 - 200 Christians who oppose Syria's enduring influence on the country were arrested in early August. (CWN)

Prisoners: ICC is not aware of any Christians being held for religious activities.

Suggested Actions You Might Take:

• Pray for the Christians of Lebanon that they may be protected from harm and that the Christian message may be heard and received by all. Pray that the drive to institute stricter Islamic law would be blocked and equal treatment for all faiths would prevail.
• Write a respectful letter to one or more of the government officials listed below. Express your continuing concern for the safety and well being of the Christian community in Lebanon. Request information about what steps the government is taking to ensure their protection and freedom to practice their faith as laid out in the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights documents.
• Contact the elected national officials (Senators, Congressman etc.) for your area as well as the U.S. State Department and express concern for the well being of the Christians in Lebanon asking them to make an inquiry into their status.
• Please keep us informed of any replies or results you may receive! Contact ICC by email at ICC@persecution.org.

Official Contacts:

*We make every attempt to keep up with and reflect changes in the national government of Lebanon and the current human rights situation. We appreciate your feedback if you find any discrepancies in this information. You can contact us by e-mail at: icc@persecution.org. Thanks.

POSTED:  May 8, 2003

ICC Articles on Lebanon: