Lebanon: Treatment of family members of former Jamiat al-Islamiyah and Baath Party members by the Syrian authorities in Lebanon, and whether there is protection available to them from the Lebanese government (1998-July 1999)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 July 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | LBN32304.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Lebanon: Treatment of family members of former Jamiat al-Islamiyah and Baath Party members by the Syrian authorities in Lebanon, and whether there is protection available to them from the Lebanese government (1998-July 1999), 1 July 1999, LBN32304.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aaf250.html [accessed 21 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The following information was provided during a 12 July 1999 telephone interview with a professor who is a specialist on Lebanon at the Centre des hautes études sur l'Afrique et l'Asie moderne in Paris, and is the former editor of Arabies and Jeune Afrique magazine. The professor recently published an article in Les Cahiers de l'Orient on Islamic movements in Lebanon. He is currently finishing a book on Islamic movements.
The professor doubted that family members of former members of Jamiat al-Islamiyah are victims of mistreatment by the Syrian forces in Lebanon. There are several reasons: Jamiat al-Islamiyah approves of the Syrian intervention in Lebanon, the group is not underground as some of them have been elected as MPs, and it recently mediated the conflict between the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood and the Syrian government. The professor added that in 1993, members of the group were involved in the planning of a bomb attack against a Christian convent in north Lebanon. The participants were arrested, prosecuted and jailed. The professor suggested that if any family members of former Jamiat al-Islamiyah members would be facing difficulties, it would be those involved in this planned attack.
The following information was provided during a 8 July 1999 telephone interview with the Director of the Centre d'études et de recherche sur le Moyen-Orient contemporain in Beirut, and the author of several articles and books on Lebanon and Syria.
The Director stated that relations between Syria and Iraq have improved significantly in the last two years and this has impacted positively on the situation of members and former members, as well as their families, of the Iraqi Baath party in Lebanon. The Director doubted that family members of former Iraqi Baath members are mistreated by the Syrian forces in Lebanon.
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
Centre d'études et de recherches sur le Moyen-Orient contemporain (CERMOC), Beirut, Lebanon. 8 July 1999. Telephone interview with the Director.
Professor, Centre des hautes études sur l'Afrique et l'Asie moderne, and former editor of Arabies and Jeune Afrique magazine, Paris, France. 12 July 1999. Telephone interview.
Additional Sources Consulted
Electronic sources: WNC, Lexis-Nexis, Internet.
