The most recent attempt to approve optional civil marriage in Lebanon was also the suggestion that former President Elias Hrawi put forward in the Cabinet on February 5, 1998, when he proposed a personal status draft law that included civil marriage. At the time, Hrawi’s proposal gained 21 supporting votes but was challenged by the late PM Rafik Hariri and ministers Bassem Sabeh, Bahij Tabbara (married civilly), Bechara Merhej (married civilly), Omar Mesqawi and Fouad Seniora. Ministers Walid Jumblat and Hagop Demirjian were absent from the session, while Minister Suleiman Frangieh abstained from voting.

The survey conducted by Information International on optional civil marriage resulted in the following findings:

Marriage system: 51% for optional and compulsory civil marriage, 46% for religious marriage

The Lebanese were divided in their opinions regarding the optimal marriage system. A majority of 46% supported religious marriage, 18% supported civil marriage and 33% called for a system endorsing both religious and civil options. 3% expressed indifference on the subject.

As illustrated in the following Table 1, these stances are distributed by sect. It is mostly the Muslim that back religious marriages, especially the Sunni (66%). This option is less agreeable among Christians and it reaches its lowest percentage among Armenians with only 20% supporting religious marriages.

By religion, 30% of the Christians who were polled stood up for religious marriage against 58% of Muslims. 42% of the Christians and 27% of Muslims welcomed the optional marriage system.

The evident support of the religious option was highlighted through the following responses:

• When asked what option they would choose if they were to get married, 60% of single respondents chose religious marriage, 20% civil marriage and 20% said they didn’t know.
• On the other hand, when asked about the option that married respondents would want for their current or prospective children, 60% chose religious marriage, 17% picked civil marriage and 23% said they didn’t know.

However, endorsement of a religious marriage system doesn’t necessarily imply opposition to the optional civil marriage. 18% expressed full support of a purely civil system, while 33% showed more flexibility saying a person should have both options, which brings the total of those supportive of either optional or compulsory civil marriage to 51%.

Grand Mufti’s fatwa greeted with opposition

42% of the respondents were opposed to the fatwa issued by Grand Mufti Mohamad Rashid Qabbani that suggested any Muslim with legal or executive authority who legalizes civil marriage is deemed an apostate and an outcast from Islam. 26% welcomed the fatwa, 22% were indifferent and 10% refused to answer.

To conclude, the Lebanese are divided into three categories when it comes to the marriage system they consider best:

• 46% cling to religious marriage as their only choice
• 18% cling to civil marriage as their only choice
• 33% believe in adopting a system that provides both options, although 18% of those would opt for a religious ceremony.

Should the optional marriage system be approved, 64% would prefer to tie a religious knot, 21% a civil one, and 15% are still undecided.

This telephone survey was conducted on the 29th and 30th of January 2013 and included a sample of 500 male and female respondents distributed among all social classes and age groups and belonging to different regions and sects across Lebanon.

 

 

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