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Australian politician: Bringing Lebanese to Australia a ‘mistake’

SYDNEY – Australia’s Immigration Minister Peter Dutton sparked controversy Monday after telling parliament members the Australian government made a mistake by resettling Lebanese refugees in the 1970s.

Dutton said former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser “did make mistakes in bringing some people in,” as part of his immigration policy. He said crime statistics in the country show a large number of Lebanese Australians are involved in terror incidents.

“The advice I have is that out of the last 33 people who have been charged with terrorist-related offenses in this country, 22 of those people are from second and third generation Lebanese Muslim background,” he said.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Lebanese immigration peaked at 4,906 in 1977, with a smaller peak of 2,600 in 1987. The Bureau estimates Australia has about 196,000 citizens of Lebanese descent, including people whose parents were born in Australia.

Since this controversy, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull praised Dutton and called him a “committed and compassionate immigration minister.”

“There is no question that there are lessons to be learned from previous immigration policies and the minister was reflecting on,” Turnbull said. “He’s entitled to do that.”

Some Lebanese Australians said they’re upset by the comments.

“It’s ill thought of and the purpose, I think, is solely to try to appeal to a nationalistic sense — that’s to provide a sense of exclusion rather than one of inclusion,” Jihad Dib, a Lebanese Australian Muslim, told ABC News Australia.

This is not the first time the Australian government singles out the Lebanese population. In February, a cabinet document called the Lebanese community the “most prominent ethnic group amongst Australian Sunni extremists.”

The document points to “lessons learned” after the wave of immigration to Australia as a result of the Lebanese civil war.

“Australia’s historical experience with the Sunni Lebanese community illustrates potential community safety and national security risks associated with unsuccessful integration,” the document added.

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 City Beat, News

Queen Elizabeth honors Lebanese-Australian man

(MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA) — Lebanese-Australian activist Tony Yacoub was honored recently with a Medal of the Order of Australia from Queen Elizabeth II for his “service to the Lebanese community.”

Yacoub, 63, has served as president of the World Lebanese Cultural Union (WLCU) in Australia and New Zealand since 2011, and previously from 2004 to 2009.

“I’m really, really proud and honored to receive the Order of Australia medal for my service to the Lebanese community, not only in Victoria but all of Australia and New Zealand,” Yacoub told Melbourne-based newspaper The Herald Sun.

The Queen’s official memorandum cited Yacoub’s efforts at WLCU, Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, and Victorian Bush Fire Appeal, among others.

Yacoub was also recognized as an active parishioner at the Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Parish in Victoria for over 30 years.

The Herald Sun reports that Yacoub underwent seven operations between March and November 2014, leaving Yacoub recovering for months.

Nonetheless, he continued his role as WLCU president — organizing events, festivals, and award ceremonies to celebrate Lebanese emigrants.

“I was running all the activities from my mobile phone from text messages and emails,” he said.

Yacoub immigrated to Australia in 1974 with his parents and siblings, and worked at picture frame shops for 33 years.

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 News

Australian PM attends Good Friday mass at Lebanese church

(SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA) — Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott attended Good Friday mass at St Charbel Maronite Catholic Church in southeastern Sydney, Australia on Friday.

“It was an honour for Margie and I to attend Bishop Tarabay’s Good Friday Liturgy in Punchbowl this morning,” he wrote on Twitter.

Abbott joined thousands of Maronite Catholics for the traditional Christian holiday, which commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. He also delivered the fifth reading during the service.

“For through the law I die to the law so that I might live to God,” he read from Galatians.”I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I that live, but it is Christ that lives in me.”

Australian media reports say St. Charbel draws one of the largest gathering of Catholics in Australia. It is estimated that 53 percent of Lebanese-Australians are Maronite Catholic.

Photo: Tony Abbott reads from the Bible during a Good Friday service at St Charbel's Church in Sydney's south-west. (ABC News: Mhairi McClymont)
Photo: Tony Abbott reads from the Bible during a Good Friday service at St Charbel’s Church in Sydney’s south-west. (ABC News: Mhairi McClymont)

St. Charbel was first established in Australia in 1972 when Cardinal James Darcy Freeman gave the Lebanese Maronite Order a green light to build a chapel. Since then, the church has become one of the largest Maronite communities in the world.

Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher used his Easter message to discuss the religious persecution of Christians around the world.

“Terrorism and religious persecution are now also major concerns, especially in the Middle East, Africa and Asia,’ he said.

Australian Labor MP Tony Burke also attended and spoke at the service.

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 News

Australian father guilty of marrying 12-year-old daughter to Lebanese man

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — An Australian man was found guilty on Wednesday for marrying off his 12-year-old daughter to a 26-year-old Lebanese man, according to Australian media reports.

The father, who cannot be named to protect his daughter’s identity, was found guilty of procuring a child under the age of 14 for unlawful sexual activity and encouraging the couple to have intercourse.

Media reports say the man wanted to “save” the girl from what he considered the “sin” of having sex outside marriage. Sydney’s Downing Center District Court heard that he believed girls should be married when they hit puberty.

The father held an Islamic marriage ceremony at his home in southeastern Australia in January 2014, but Australian law refused to recognize the marriage. The sheikh who approved the marriage has not been charged.

Judge Deborah Sweeney said the father gave permission for his 12-year-old daughter to have sex with the 26-year-old man at a local hotel. Sweeney adds they had sex twice more at the father’s home the following weekend.

The 12-year-old fell pregnant but miscarried, according to court documents.The Lebanese man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for marrying and impregnating the girl. He will be eligible for parole in August 2021, but will likely be deported, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

The father, who has a history of battling drugs, alcohol, and gambling, was released on bail and will be sentenced next month.

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 News

United States, Australia renew Lebanon travel warnings

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — The United States and Australia renewed travel warnings for “all travel to Lebanon” this month, citing the “frequency of terrorist bombing attacks” and spillover violence from neighboring Syria.

“The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to Lebanon because of ongoing safety and security concerns. U.S. citizens living and working in Lebanon should understand that they accept risks in remaining and should carefully consider those risks,” the department said in a travel advisory on its website.

The U.S. government also cited “wrong place, wrong time” harm to U.S. citizens.

The Australian government called the situation “unpredictable” and called on their citizens to halt all travel to the country.

“We continue to advise Australians to reconsider their need to travel to Lebanon overall because of the unpredictable security and political situation that could deteriorate without warning,” the Australian ministry said in a statement.

The U.S. Department of State cited new warnings in the renewed travel notice, calling all airplanes flying over Syria “at risk.”

“As we have seen in the recent past, commercial aircraft are at risk when flying over regions in conflict. We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens considering air travel overseas evaluate the route that their proposed commercial flight may take and avoid any that pass through Syrian airspace,” reads the warning.

“U.S. government personnel in Lebanon have been prohibited from taking flights that over-fly Syrian airspace.”

Some Syrian opposition groups have anti-aircraft capabilities, according to a previous warning issued by the U.S. government. American airlines have been forbidden from flying over Syria since August.

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 Entertainment

VIDEO: Najwa Karam scolds audience member on stage

(SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA) — Lebanese superstar Najwa Karam recently lashed out at an audience member on stage in Sydney, Australia after reportedly getting harassed halfway during her performance.

“Money does not buy us nor does it buy you, and shame on you for what you are doing,” she told the unidentified man.

Karam, who is known for her modesty and lack of controversy, continued with her performance despite the man’s jeers.

“In my life, I have never liked problems on stage, but you are being rude tonight,” she said. “Isn’t there anyone who can push you back tonight?”

Other audience members cheered for her and yelled, “May God strengthen you Najwa!”

It is unclear why the man was supposedly upset.

Watch the amateur YouTube video below:

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 Lifestyle, News

Beirut named 14th in “Top 25 Cities in the World”

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Beirut was recently listed in the 14th spot of “Top 25 Cities in the World” by Condé Nast Traveler, a luxury and lifestyle magazine based in the United States.

Beirut was listed before Sydney, Australia, San Francisco, CA, and Chicago, IL, among others.

CN Traveler says it selected Beirut from the responses of “nearly 77,000 of our readers (who) rated their favorite cities in the world.”

CN Traveler wrote:

“Though the Middle East’s current political climate is volatile (and, admittedly, has been for much of the last three millennia), Beirut remains a popular port of call for seasoned and in-the-know travelers. As editor David Jefferys says, “it’s simply a city that won’t die.” This immortality is buttressed by a thriving dining and shopping scene—try Tawlet, the ‘farmers’ kitchen’ of Souk el Tayeb (every day, a different regional Lebanese chef is showcased) and Artisan du Liban et d’Orient for traditional local garments and crafts. Adding to Beirut’s appeal as a top world city is the presence of numerous fabulous hotels: Four Seasons Hotel Beirut, Le Gray, and Hotel Albergo come to mind.​”

The full list includes:

1 – Florence, Italy

2 – Charleston, SC, USA

3 – Budapest, Hungary

4 – Cape Town, South Africa

5 – San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

6 – Prague, Czech Republic

7 – Rome, Italy

8 – Siem Reap, Cambodia

9 – Barcelona, Spain

10 – Santa Fe, NM, USA

11 – Krakow, Poland

12 – Luang Prabang, Laos

13 – Bangkok, Thailand

14 – Beirut, Lebanon

15 – Vienna, Austria

16 – Siena, Italy

17 – New Orleans, LA, USA

18 – Quebec City, Canada

19 – Sydney, Australia

20 – San Fransisco, CA, USA

21 – Chiang Mai, Thailand

22 – Salzburg, Austria

23 – Chicago, IL, USA

24 – Bruges, Belgium

25 – Kyoto, Japan

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 News

Death threats shouted at Our Lady of Lebanon Church in Sydney

(SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA) — Maronite church-goers in Sydney, Australia are left shaken after four assailants in a vehicle bearing the flag of the Islamic State drove past Our Lady of Lebanon Church shouting death threats, according to media reports.

“Four youth in an unknown car and waving the flag of ISIL drove by the church threatening church-goers with murder and with slaughtering their children,” Monseigneur Shora Maree said.

Maree says he contacted police ahead of the church’s 7pm mass on Wednesday night. Officers were sent down to patrol the Harris Park church while hundreds took part in mass inside.

The assailants caused panic among people as the Australian police is investigating the incident to identify the four youth.

“This is now in the hands of police who are fully investigating. Please do not respond to or circulate any other version of the truth on social media as it creates unnecessary panic,” Maree said in a social media statement.

On Thursday, Australia’s largest ever counter-terrorism raids detained 15 people and foiled a plot by Islamic State jihadists to conduct “demonstration killings”, reportedly including beheading a member of the public on camera.

The Australian government believes up to 60 Australians are fighting alongside jihadists for Islamic State, while another 100 were actively working to support the movement at home.

The latest raids followed the arrests of two people last week in Brisbane who were charged with allegedly recruiting, funding and sending jihadist fighters to Syria.

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