Domestic violence bill in spotlight

MP Strida Geagea Beirut – George Shahin      MP Strida Geagea revealed that the Lebanese Forces will shortly meet with a delegation from al-Jamaa al-Islamiya, to seek a common ground resolution to the differences between the two sides on the domestic violence law.  She added in an interview with Lebanese  The Daily Star newspaper: “We are fully aware that the main reference of the al-Jamaa al-Islamiya is the Islamic religion and the Holy Qur’an”, noting that “the Lebanese Forces are not prepared to compromise on any part of the bill”. The bill,  which was prepared by activists in the field of women’s rights and lawyers to protect women from domestic violence, has remained at the stage of study by the parliamentary committee since 2010, and has been suspended due to several key issues. The parliamentary committee removed the amendments on the definition and criminalisation of marital rape.  The bill also looks into the inclusion of men and children within the context of the law. Geagea added: “The Lebanese Forces are not prepared to accept any changes to the bill, as women in fact are the ones who suffer most from ill-treatment, adding to this the issue of marital rape.” A study released by Kafa (Enough) organisation, which played an instrumental role in drafting the bill, reported that domestic violence comprises about half of the marital rape cases in Lebanon, and that one woman dies every month as a result of domestic violence. While Beirut MP Imad Hout, representative of the Islamic Group in the Committee, has repeatedly said that there is no such a thing as rape between husband and wife. Geagea expressed that she does not know whether al-Jamaa al-Islamiya will agree to this law as presented by the Lebanese Forces, however, she said she had received  some positive feedback. She added “A delegation from the Lebanese Forces met with the Pakistani ambassador on Thursday to discuss the law which was approved lately in Pakistan in order to exchange experiences with a Muslim-majority country”. She continues: “We have asked about some parts of the law so we can use it as a source of ideas,” pointing out that “the bill does not conflict with religious affairs.” However,  Geagea warned that the threat made last month by the Lebanese Forces to withdraw MP Shant Janjanian from the committee in charge of studying the bill, may be not enough to change the current direction of the bill. She said: “Withdrawing our MP would be a moral position,” adding, “Maybe it won’t be effective to pass the law the way we want it. We want it recorded for posterity that we oppose what is happening now.” Geagea also spoke about a proposed law to allow Lebanese women to pass on their nationality to their children, a law she would be in favour of, but with some restrictions. She said: “I support the implementation of some measures to limit marriage for the purpose of gaining citizenship, as in the United States,  when a lot of men marry American women merely to gain citizenship. "Some restrictions should be applied; for example, the husband must be a resident of Lebanon for at least 10 years,” she said. “But when it comes to granting their children citizenship, this should be passed immediately without any restriction,” she added. Geagea, a Bsharri MP since 2005, said she has yet to decide whether to run in the next year’s Parliamentary elections, and dismissed talk that a video she recently made for MTV, in which she condemned violence against women, was an early campaign move. “They, in Bsharri, might see the video as me standing with women against men, especially, with the presence of the Middle Eastern mindset that exists. This wouldn’t help me in the elections.”