(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Hundreds of Lebanese students and civil marriage activists marched on Sunday from the American University of Beirut to the Interior Ministry building, demanding that Lebanon institute civil marriage.
Protestors held signs targeting Minister Nouhad Machnouk, who has been accused of intentionally blocking the official recognition of civil marriage contracts performed in Lebanon.
But Machnouk says the issue is not “administrative decision-making” and therefore, not his decision.
“The solution lies only with a civil law regarding personal status issues,” Machnouk said in remarks published by Al-Akhbar. “Let them go to Parliament and demand a civil law on personal status, then I will be the first one to sign.”
The protesters called for secularism and civil rights, which they say is being denied in Lebanon by banning civil marriages.
The Interior Ministry issued a statement last month, however, saying that the 1936 law that legalizes civil marriage specifies the need for an official process that must be decreed by the Cabinet before the law can be implemented.
Activists claim these are excuses by Lebanese lawmakers to keep religious sectarianism carved in the system.
“We are currently in a state of war,” spokesperson Talal Husseini said during a press conference at Beirut’s Press Club. “The truth is that the Interior Ministry is abstaining from registering contracts of civil marriages performed in Lebanon and is violating the law of coexistence and the freedom and equality of the Lebanese.”
The Sunday protest was organized by two clubs at AUB — the Secular Club and the Red Oak Club. They held signs accusing Machnouk of having more than 40 civil marriage contracts awaiting approval. But Macknouk says he only has 13.
Protestors also allege that Machnouk has contradicted his opinion on the issue several times, citing a Twitter post where he appeared pro-civil marriage.
“Are you a hypocrite?” several protesters shouted.
Lebanese couples wishing to have a civil marriage can travel to places such as Turkey or Cyprus and the Lebanese state would fully recognize those marriages, according to Machnouk.
But activists say that’s not enough. They’re planning future protests in hopes to be heard by the Lebanese government.