Marwan Charbel
Marwan Charbel | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Interior and Municipalities | |
| In office 13 June 2011 – February 2013 | |
| Prime Minister | Najib Mikati |
| Preceded by | Ziyad Baroud |
| Succeeded by | Nohad Machnouk |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1947 (age 76–77) |
| Nationality | Lebanese |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | |
| Military service | |
| Rank | Brigadier general |
Marwan Charbel (born 1947) is a retired Lebanese brigadier general and the former minister of interior and municipalities between 2011 and 2013.[1]
Early life and education
Charbel was born in 1947.[2] He entered the military academy in 1968 and graduated as a lieutenant in 1971.[2] Then he obtained a bachelor's degree in law from Lebanese University in 1981.[3]
Career
Charbel served in various units of the Internal Security Forces.[4] Then he became a major general in the Internal Security Forces.[5] He was the advisor of caretaker interior minister Ziyad Baroud.[6]
In June 2011, he was appointed minister of interior and municipalities to the cabinet led by prime minister Najib Mikati,[7][8] replacing Ziyad Baroud in the post. Charbel was part of the group appointed by President Michel Suleiman in the cabinet.[5][9] His appointment was one of the major points significantly discussed during the negotiation process for the establishment of the cabinet.[9] He was considered to be a friends with both the Lebanese president Michel Sulaiman and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader Michel Aoun.[9] In fact, he was seen as a member of FPM.[8][10]
In 2011, Charbel proposed the hybrid-system reform in regard to legislative elections to be held in 2013.[11] In February 2014, Charbel's term ended when Nouhad Machnouk was appointed to the post.[12][13]
Personal life
Charbel is married and has two sons and a daughter.[6]
Controversy
In early May 2013 Charbel stated on Al Jadeed TV that Lebanon was opposed to homosexuals (using the derogatory Arabic term for homosexuals, 'liwat') and that homosexuality was a felony in Lebanon. These remarks followed shortly after the controversial raid and closing of a gay-friendly nightclub in Dekwaneh during which it is reported that several gay men and a transgender woman were falsely arrested and abused by security forces acting on the direct instructions of the mayor of Dekwaneh, Antoine Chakhtoura.[14] Charbel's office subsequently posted a clarification on Facebook that Charbel was not passing a judgment, but was merely stating that while gay marriage was recently legalized in France it was still prohibited in Lebanon.[15]
References
- ^ Mohamed Nazzal (27 April 2012). "Marwan Charbel: I'm Not Racist". Al Akhbar. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- ^ a b "Marwan Charbel". Beirut. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
- ^ "Lineup of Mikati's 30". The Daily Star. 14 June 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
- ^ Huda Al Saleh (22 March 2013). "Lebanese Interior Minister on the Syrian Conflict". Asharq Alawsat. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
- ^ a b "Charbel to be the minister of interior in new cabinet". Ya Libnan. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
- ^ a b "Charbel confirms nomination for Interior Ministry top post". The Daily Star. 13 May 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- ^ Thomas El Basha (13 June 2011). "Mikati forms 30-member Lebanon Cabinet". The Daily Star. Beirut. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
- ^ a b "Lebanon's New Cabinet" (PDF). International Foundation for Electoral Systems. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
- ^ a b c "The New Lebanese Government" (Assessment Report). Lebanese Information Center. July 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- ^ Sami Moubayed (22 June 2011). "Lebanese premier yet to smell victory". Asia Times. Damascus. Archived from the original on 24 June 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Arda Arsenian Ekmekji (July 2012). "Confessionalism and electoral reform in Lebanon" (PDF). Aspen Institute. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
- ^ "Lebanon announces new government after ten month political deadlock". Euronews. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
- ^ "Lebanese cabinet formed after 10-month stalemate". Al Arabiya. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
- ^ "Minister of Interior declares: 'Lebanon is against sodomy'". Gay Star News. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
- ^ "Statement from Ministry of Interior's press office regarding comments by Marwan Charbel". Facebook. Retrieved 5 May 2013.