The Case of Anal and Vaginal Examinations in Lebanon

Around a month ago, 36 men were arrested in a porn movie theatre in a northern suburb district of Beirut called Bourj Hammoud, after the conservative MurrTV’s program called Enta Horr’s (You’re Free) presenter Joe Maalouf went in the theater with a hidden camera and filmed people inside, asking the police on his show at a later stage to be responsible and stop these “immoral” acts. The police raided the cinema and captured 36 men. The 36 men were taken to the morality police Hbeich, forced to undergo anal examinations and then asked to pay for the price of the examination which is around 88 USD.

 

Civil society organisations like Helem, Amnesty International, Legal Agenda and a few local newspapers and media, mobilized to support the men legally and publically. 16 men were released after 2 days from the arrest because they ‘failed’ the anal examination. 18 were released after 4 days from the arrest due to the legal aid they got. 2 were still charged of ‘unnatural sexual behavior’. Since article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code (“unnatural sexual behaviour law”) is enough to charge someone to prison, but police always manages to find another charger to stick it to the arrested.

 

 

These 36 men were arrested and MTV never ceased to take pride in correcting what is wrong. MTV has a history of attacking minorities and targeting domestic workers of African and Asian origins, Palestinian refugees, LGBTs, drug users etc, which lead for these 36 men to be violated and harassed by the government.

 

Joe Maalouf, the TV presenter, after someone outed him as a homosexual, decided to take this to court for shaming. His TV channel and he also accused other media of using Helem as a mean to attack MTV... They pulled the passive/aggressive card as if they were the victims who got hurt.

 

 

The good thing is there is a debate about whether outing is a good strategy to use or not. Also, there was an incredible support from the public and from the media first time in such a mass, and from the doctor’s union for the arrested men and against MTV, and standing up against anal and vaginal examinations performed by the police. A demonstration took place against vaginal and anal examinations in front of the Ministry of Justice in Beirut. The union of doctors issued a statement that any doctor who performs these examinations is subjected to penalty by the union.

 

 

A debate is going on with the Minister of Justice, Shakib Qortbawi, who said they will change the procedure of anal and vaginal examinations to make it optional. However if the detained person rejects these examination it can be used against her/him in court. The issue of these examinations is nowhere near closed, however the officials are trying to distract this issue away by saying there are more important political problems going on now like Syria and other regional conflicts.

 

By: Jo Hammoud of Helem Organization