Bassil Lists Series of 'Violations' against Christians: Elections Won't Be Held According to 1960 Law
Energy Minister Jebran Bassil listed on Thursday a number of violations or “acts of theft” committed against Christians in Lebanon, while stressing that the parliamentary elections will not be held based on the 1960 law.
He said during a press conference: “There is an attempt to naturalize Palestinians in Lebanon and later Syrian refugees in Lebanon.”
“Isn't it a form of theft when large portions of Lebanese land are dedicated to foreigners?” he asked in reference to the flow of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
“Isn't the talk of refugee camps a violation of Christian rights?” he wondered.
The minister made his remarks in response to Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour when the former described, during a cabinet session Wednesday, the 1960 law as a violation against Christians to which the latter said that the Orthodox Gathering electoral law politically eliminates Druze and Sunnis in Lebanon.
Bassil continued: “Isn't the elimination of Good Friday as a holiday and turning February 14 into a national one a form of theft against Christians and their rights?”
On the parliamentary elections, he said: “The authority to supervise the elections based on the 1960 law will not be formed because Christians reject this law.”
“We have been the most keen on fair representation among sects in Lebanon,” he added.
“Christians of the East played a pioneering role during the Arab revival,” he continued.
“They played a major role in ending Turkish and later Syrian occupation,” stressed Bassil.
Addressing “those who believe that the Orthodox Gathering proposal has been buried,” he said: “This law was approved at the joint parliamentary committees and it will be referred to parliament where it will be subject to a vote.”
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