She is less than a month into her tenure as Lebanon's Minister of Interior but already, Raya Al Hassan is making ripples. In a controversial interview with the Euronews TV network, Ms Al Hassan vowed to "open the door to a serious and deep dialogue with all religious and other authorities, and with the support of [Prime Minister Saad] Hariri, until civil marriage is recognised". The statement has fanned the flames of a debate raging since the 1950s over whether civil marriage should be allowed as an alternative option to religion-based marriage, which is currently the only means to get married in Lebanon. Many before Ms Al Hassan have tried and failed to challenge marital laws first enshrined when the French mandate overseeing Lebanon ended in 1943. Yet the country's deep sectarian divides have ensured that whenever the idea is debated, the result is always the same: the proposition is rebuffed by a plethora of politicians and clergy – Muslim and Christian alike – and ends up being abandoned as a lost cause.
The issue is so contentious that protesters have been taking to the streets of Beirut in the past few days calling for civil marriages to be recognised – a proposal which has been roundly rejected by Lebanon's highest Sunni authority, Dar Al Fatwa, and the Catholic Church, which called it "wrong", "confusing" and a contradiction of the sacrament of marriage. Meanwhile protesters argue that marriage should not be beholden to sectarianism.
There are currently 18 different religious sects in a country with no unified personal status laws. This situation renders non-religious and interfaith marriage impossible on Lebanese soil and condemns matters of the heart to follow the sectarian lines of the country, which are firmly embedded throughout the legal system and society itself. The option of having a civil rather than a religious marriage would not replace the current system; it would merely create an additional secular court, giving couples the freedom to choose. Allowing civil marriages would be a progressive move, encouraging more peaceful coexistence between sects as well as championing gender equality.
Yet religious and community leaders persist in blocking them at every turn. The issue today is not about permitting couples to marry secularly. They already do so. Lebanese couples can marry in a foreign country with secular marriage laws, such as neighbouring Cyprus, and return to Lebanon to be recognised as a married couple.
But even those who can afford to have a civil union abroad are not guaranteed legal protection when they return to Lebanon. Should things go awry and they find themselves heading for a divorce or custody battle, they might only be allowed to plead their case in religious courts, particularly if they are from the same religious background. In the case of interfaith marriages, matters become even more difficult as judges often do not fully comprehend the law of the country they married in, which should apply in theory but rarely does in practice.
What makes the situation even more absurd is that civil marriage is not actually illegal in Lebanon. A 1936 law dating back to the French mandate era permits couples with no religious denomination to wed in a civil union. This creates a scenario whereby Lebanese couples must resort to mandate-era legislation and become renegades on paper just to secure a secular marriage, by denouncing their religious affiliation. Khouloud Sukkarieh and Nidal Darwish decided to exploit that loophole. In 2012 the Muslim couple erased their religious orientation from their official documents and became the first couple to marry secularly in Lebanon. From 2013 to 2015, others followed suit, until Nohad El Machnouk – the interior minister at the time – decided that, unlike his predecessor, he would not recognise such marriages. That has left couples since in an administrative limbo that has yet to be resolved.
It is crucial that religious leaders and politicians stop ignoring the reality of those who resort to such desperate measures to find their way around outdated laws. Activists have pointed out that civil marriage could address some of the shortcomings of the current court system when it comes to women’s rights, particularly with regards to divorce settlements and child custody. For too long, Lebanon has viewed itself along sectarian lines; separating them from the institution of marriage is the first step to ending those divisions. As Ms Sukkarieh puts it: "Once civil marriage is legalised, this means that the first column of sectarianism is broken."
Ms Al Hassan is not the first to try to champion the option of civil marriage but her predecessors have always capitulated under pressure. In fact, the issue could have been resolved 20 years ago. At the time, a bill in favour of optional civil marriage was proposed by then president Elias Hrawi and was approved by a majority of the ministerial cabinet. However, then prime minister Rafiq Hariri refused to refer it to parliament as he feared a backlash from conservatives. Religious courts are a lucrative source of revenue so it is perhaps little surprise their power over communities is guarded fiercely.
It is significant, therefore, that 15 years on from that stand-off, Mr Hariri’s son, the current prime minister, pinned his colours to the flag in favour of civil marriage. Lebanon’s foremost Sunni cleric, Mufti Mohammed Rashid Qabbani, came out strongly against it, declaring in 2013 that civil marriage was a threat to “the teachings of Islam and the foundations of Arab society”.
It has taken more than seven decades but calls for more avenues for couples to marry are gathering momentum. A 2013 survey by Information International found more than half of those questioned backed civil unions. Lebanon is ready for much-needed change and today’s politicians must not give way to pressure or self-interest. The chief demand among demonstrators gathering last weekend was for Ms Al Hassan to recognise the civil marriage certificates that her predecessor refused to sign. Much hope is pinned on her and in her first few weeks in office she has promised to be an advocate for change.
"Because I'm the first woman, I need to act as a role model," she told The National when she took up her post. Whether she will succeed in doing so, or fall foul of the sectarianism that got the better of her predecessors, remains to be seen, but allowing couples to step outside sectarian lines will surely have positive repercussions – at all levels of politics and society.
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
More on animal trafficking
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
More on Quran memorisation:
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
The specs: 2018 Maserati Levante S
Price, base / as tested: Dh409,000 / Dh467,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 430hp @ 5,750rpm
Torque: 580Nm @ 4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.9L / 100km
Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
The five new places of worship
Church of South Indian Parish
St Andrew's Church Mussaffah branch
St Andrew's Church Al Ain branch
St John's Baptist Church, Ruwais
Church of the Virgin Mary and St Paul the Apostle, Ruwais
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
RESULT
Norway 1 Spain 1
Norway: King (90 4')
Spain: Niguez (47')
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Shahi
Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan
Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
