Bkirki Meeting for Christian Ministers over Marginalization
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi is planning on inviting Christian ministers for a meeting on Friday to inquire them about the alleged marginalization of Christians in state institutions, An Nahar daily reported on Tuesday.
The newspaper said al-Rahi wants to hear the ministers’ remarks on the status of Christian employees at their ministries and other institutions during the meeting in Bkirki.
The issue has been in the public eye in the past years but it gained momentum when ministers from Speaker Nabih Berri’s Amal movement were accused of marginalizing Christians.
Bishop Boulos Matar told Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) that Friday’s meeting in Bkirki is aimed at sending a warning and at rejecting lack of partnership.
Last week, Public Works Minister Ghazi Zoaiter denied claims that his ministry has been carrying out more development projects in areas with a Muslim population than in Christian regions.
Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khali also defended a decision to allocate a senior post at the ministry's taxpayers department that was held by Bassema Antonios, a Christian, to Shiite Muslim employee Mohammed Suleiman.
The finance ministry has not witnessed any new appointments but rather a periodic reshuffle of incumbent employees, he said.
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