The Director of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the American University of Beirut (AUB) and the source of information for LBN24635.E of 16 July 1996, stated that the content of his 1996 interview regarding forcible recruitment by Hezbollah is still valid in 1999 (25 Feb. 1999). The Director added that Hezbollah is not running out of members either for its social activities or for its combat units. As such, the Hezbollah does not have to force or threaten people into becoming members of its organization. This information was corroborated by three specialists on Lebanon: a journalist for the Daily Star, a Beirut-based newspaper (26 Feb. 1999); a senior researcher at the Centre for Lebanese Studies in Oxford (26 Feb. 1999); and a senior researcher at the Centre d'études et de recherches sur le Moyen-Orient contemporain (CERMOC) in Beirut (1 Mar. 1999).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Director, Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the American University of Beirut (AUB), Lebanon. 25 February 1999. Telephone interview.

Journalist and specialist on Lebanon, the Daily Star, Beirut, Lebanon. 26 February 1999. Telephone interview.

Senior researcher, Centre for Lebanese Studies, Oxford, England. 26 February 1999. Telephone interview.

Senior researcher, Centre d'études et de recherches sur le Moyen-Orient contemporain (CERMOC), Beirut. 1 March 1999. Telephone interview.