Document #1139093
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
Sources such as the Website Gay State
of the World 1997, the International Lesbian and Gay
Association (ILGA) Euro-Letter (Dec. 1996) and Amnesty
International Breaking the Silence: Human Rights Violations
Based on Sexual Orientation (1997, 88) state that
homosexuality is illegal in Lebanon. It may be of interest to know
that these three publications have not reported any additional news
on the situation of homosexuals in Lebanon since 1996. In fact,
documentary material on homosexuals in Lebanon is scarce at
best.
Reports on the social situation of
homosexuals in Lebanon since LBN24937.E of 23 September 1996 could
not be found among the sources consulted by the Research
Directorate.
The following information was provided
during a 24 July 1998 telephone interview with a Lebanese
sociologist who is a researcher at the Institute of Social Sciences
at the University of Lebanon.
The sociologist indicated that homosexuals
in Lebanon are not actively sought by the security forces unless
they conduct their activities publicly. Homosexuality is considered
a "private and family matter" and the security forces are reluctant
to get involve in a "family matter". There have been no reported
cases of homosexuals arrested, imprisoned or put on trial for their
sexual orientation since 1990 in Lebanon. In practice,
homosexuality is generally not prosecuted in Lebanon. There are
places where homosexuals can meet such as a club called "Le B018"
located in East Beirut. The club, which also has heterosexual
customers, is well-known to the Lebanese security forces but there
have been no arrests of homosexuals in this establishment since
1990.
According to information available on its
Website, Euro-Letter is published on behalf of ILGA by the
Danish National Association for Gays and Lesbians (LBL) in
cooperation with Gay and Lesbian International Lobby.
Two sources at the International Gay and
Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) in San Franscisco could
not provide information on the social situation of homosexuals in
Lebanon or whether people were being prosecuted on the basis of
their homosexuality (24 July 1998).
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.
References
Amnesty International (AI). 1997.
Breaking the Silence: Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual
Orientation. New York: Amnesty International Publications.
International Gay and Lesbian Human
Rights Commission (IGLHRC), San Franscisco. 24 July 1998. Telephone
interview with two sources.
International Lesbian and Gay
Association. December 1996. Euro-Letter. No. 46.
[Internet] http://www.casti.com/FQRD/assocs/ilga/euroletter/46.html
[Accessed on 24 July 1998]
Gay State of the World 1997.
[Internet] http://www.outandabout.com/gaystate97.html
[Accessed on 24 July 1998]
Sociologist, Institute of Social
Sciences, University of Lebanon, Beirut. 24 July 1998. Telephone
interview.
Additional Sources Consulted
Arabies [Paris]. January 1989 -
1998. Monthly.
Arab Law Quarterly [London].
1993 - 1998. Quarterly.
Arab Studies Quarterly [Lake
Forest, Ill.]. 1995 - 1998. Quarterly.
Dialogue [London]. October 1993
- 1998. Monthly.
ILGA Newsletter. 1997-1998.
Resource Centre Country Files:
Lebanon
Jane's Intelligence Review.
Monthly. 1997-1998.
The Middle East [London].
November 1995 - 1998. Monthly.
Middle East International
[London]. January 1995 - 1998. Bi-weekly.
Middle East Report
[Washington]. September 1995 - 1997. Bi-monthly.
Monde Arabe Maghreb-Machrek
[Paris]. January 1995 - 1998. Quarterly.
News From Middle East Watch
[New York]. 1996 - 1998.
Pointer. a newsletter published
by the Jane's Group, London.
Electronic sources: IRB database, Global
Newsbank, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD, WNC.