Why Lebanese Women Demonstrated Today

(Photo Credit, Asaad Thebian)

Rita Chemaly explains:

Although men and women in Lebanon are entitled to most of the same rights, women are still struggling to achieve full gender equality under the law. Specifically, a Lebanese woman married to a foreign man does not have the legal right to pass her nationality to her husband or children, while a foreign woman marrying a Lebanese man is entitled to citizenship for herself and her children.

and

Transmission of nationality is not a mere legal formality: it also carries social and financial consequences. Because these husbands and children are considered residents and not citizens, they must obtain residency and work permits and renew them each year. This is a costly procedure involving a tidy sum, roughly $2,000 to $3,300, massive red tape and long hours of waiting in line at the General Security office.

I think this is absolutely abhorrent, you should help with this by joining their facebook page .

Update: Rita has a great roundup on her own blog of the press coverage of the event.
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