Thousands of Lebanese march against sectarianism

Beirut - Around 3,000 Lebanese on Sunday took part in a peaceful rally demanding the abolishment of sectarianism in the Lebanese political system.

Politics in the country are based on sectarian divisions and parliament seats are allocated according to religious affiliation.

Sunday's rally, which was organized by an independent organization called "Laique Pride," marched towards the parliament in central Beirut.

Demonstrators distributed red roses to passers-by, while others chanted "we want to live together in a religion-free Lebanon."

"Lebanon's sectarian system contradicts the charter of human rights ... Manipulating religion for political purposes is not acceptable," Kinda Hassan, one of the organizers, told the German Press Agency, dpa,

"The sectarian political system we are living under today should gradually evolve to include secular representation inside the government," Hassan said, adding that she did not expect changes to be made overnight

Lebanon is considered liberal in the Middle East, but religion still plays a key role in the tiny country, which has more than 18 different religious communities.

Under the Lebanese system, the president has to be a Maronite Christian, the speaker of parliament a Shiite Muslim and the prime minister a Sunni Muslim.

Seats in government and parliament are equally divided among Christians and Muslims.

Many Lebanese human rights groups have been calling for a secular state since the end of Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war, which killed more than 150,000 people.

"We want civil marriage, not civil war" read one banner carried by the demonstrators.

In Lebanon civil marriage is not accepted by major religions.

"If two people from different religions decide to get married they have to go to Cyprus to get a civil union," said Hassan.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/320482,thousands-of-lebanese-march-against-sectarianism.html.