By Alyxandra Stanczak
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
BEIRUT, Lebanon– More than 6,000 Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon protested for basic rights this weekend. The protesters gathered in Beirut and marched to the United Nations headquarters. Approximately ten percent of Lebanon’s population, or 400,000 people, is composed of Palestinian refugees. They are a marginalized group in Lebanon, often experiencing employment discrimination and insufficient public, social, education, and medical services.
Earlier this week, Palestinian ambassador to Lebanon, Abdullah Abdullah, urged Lebanese officials to grant basic rights to Palestinian refugees within the country at this politically crucial time. Prime Minister Sa’ad Hariri has stated that while the Lebanese government has “social, ethical, and humanitarian duties” toward the refugees it could no longer ignore, the Lebanese government would not permit the naturalization of Palestinians refugees as Lebanese citizens.
Lebanon’s parliament has drafted a law that is due for floor debate within the next few weeks that will address the issues facing Palestinians within Lebanon. Specifically, the law would legalize basic worker’s rights, such as medical care and end-of-service pay. Additionally, the law would give Palestinians the right to own a residential apartment. Though this law has support, it is expected to be fiercely debated on the floor due to sectarian concerns.
Offices in the Lebanese government are divided proportionally, with political appointments reserved for people affiliated with specific religious communities. The outdated proportion of political seats is based off the last census, which was taken in 1932. The lack of a recent census has resulted in three of the eighteen different religious sects claiming to have an absolute majority. Political power is not only divided among sectarian lines within Islam, but roughly thirty-five-percent of the Lebanese population identifies itself as Christian.
If political rights are designated to Palestinian refugees, who are generally Sunni Muslim, the Sunni sect would likely attain a higher proportion in the government. This shift in power could ultimately undermine the political influence of other religious communities.
Most of the approximately 400,000 Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon reside in twelve camps under deplorable living conditions. Palestinian refugees, who are forbidden to work in certain professions under Lebanese Law, such as medicine, law, engineering, and architecture, remain mired in a cycle of unemployment and poverty.
Furthermore, these camps, which are not secured by the Lebanese Army, are often an attractive hideout for extremists and fugitives.
For more information, please see:
AFP – Palestinian diplomat urges Lebanese unity on refugee rights – 29 June 2010
Al Jazeera – Refugees march for Lebanon rights – 27 June 2010
Daily Star – Hariri calls for national unity on granting rights to Palestinians – 30 June 2010
Voice of America – Palestinians in Beirut hope for more rights – 29 June 2010
