Joseph A. Kechichian, Senior Writer - Gulf news

Beirut: Article 522 of the Lebanese Penal Code shields rapists from prosecution on the condition that they marry their victim, a phenomenon that is still practised in the country, especially among conservative families whose chief aim is to preserve the family’s so-called “honour.” Activists say that such ‘protection’ is, more often than not, a second trauma for victims — something that parliament’s Administration and Justice Committee met to discuss a few days ago.

Deputy Élie Keyrouz, a Lebanese Forces MP, proposed to abolish the article entirely, but parliament moved to postpone the debate on the proposal until next Wednesday. The Lebanese Forces’ Department of Women’s Affairs not only called to abolish the article but also to prosecute the rapists — insisting that 522 stands as an insult to “women and violates their dignity and the safety of the family and stability.”

The hashtag #Undress522 has also been launched to trigger online discussion and awareness on the matter. It teamed up with local NGO, ABAAD, which made visual inroads as it displayed in front of parliament building at Nijmeh Square a woman dressed in a white wedding dress made with bandages, to say that this was not acceptable.

#LiveLoveLebanon #khazen #LebaneseArchitecture

By Wajdi Al-Aridi

Beirut- President of the Association of Lebanese Industrialists Fadi Gemayel has said that Lebanon is passing through difficult circumstances as its growth rate has ranged between 1 and 1.5%. “Although this rate is being reached in some European countries too, yet it is still so far away from what the Lebanese economy has achieved in the past.”

Gemayel stressed that Lebanese industry isn’t in its best situation and is not consistent with Lebanese people’s capabilities and potentials. In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Gemayel noted that the World Bank praised the diversity of Lebanese products that include traditional products as well as sophisticated goods in several sectors.

Gemayel said that Lebanon’s industry has faced many challenges in the past and has developed without any support or industrial policy, except for the interest subsidy in the industrial, agricultural and tourism investments. He said that Lebanese products have reached countries with most demanding markets such as the United States, Canada and Europe.

We always praise the capabilities of Lebanon’s industry, he said, despite the challenges Lebanon has been facing for many years.

#khazen Beirut #LiveLoveLebanon