Lebanon: Situation of Jehovah's Witnesses; their relationship with the authorities and with society in general; protection available in cases of mistreatment (2006)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa |
| Publication Date | 20 November 2006 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | LBN102100.FE |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Lebanon: Situation of Jehovah's Witnesses; their relationship with the authorities and with society in general; protection available in cases of mistreatment (2006), 20 November 2006, LBN102100.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/47d6548a28.html [accessed 17 September 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. |
Recent information on the situation of Jehovah's Witnesses in Lebanon was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. A report published in 2005 by the Foundation for Human and Humanitarian Rights (Lebanon) (FHHRL) indicates that the Jehovah's Witnesses' faith is not officially recognized by the government of Lebanon and that it is therefore "not protected by law" (2005, 7). However, the report does not specify the consequences of this lack of recognition (FHHRL 2005). The FHHRL also notes that a television program broadcast on Télé Lumière is hosted by a priest who disparages Jehovah's Witnesses and other "sects" (2005, 6). This information could not be corroborated among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
Information on the treatment of Jehovah's Witnesses by the authorities or by Lebanese society and on protection available to them could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints for this Response.
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 for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Reference
Foundation for Human and Humanitarian Rights (Lebanon) (FHHRL) [Jounieh, Lebanon]. 2005. The State of Human Rights in Lebanon.
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral Source: Attempts to contact the Foundation for Human and Humanitarian Rights (Lebanon) (FHHRL) were unsuccessful.
Publications, including: Encyclopedia of World Religious Practice.
Internet Sites, including : Al Jazeera, Amnesty International (AI), British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), Courrier international [Paris], Daily Star [Beirut], European Country of Origin Information Network (ecoi.net), Forum 18, Freedom House, Human Rights Watch (HRW), International Christian Concern, L'Orient-Le Jour [Beirut], La Revue du Liban [Beirut], United States Department of State, Watchtower.