Marwan Charbel

Marwan Charbel (born 1947) is a retired Lebanese brigadier general and the former minister of interior and municipalities between 2011 and 2013.[1]

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 72–73)
Nationality	Lebanese
Alma mater	Lebanese Army Military Academy Lebanese University
Military service
Rank	Brigadier general

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.[9] Charbel is part of the group appointed by President Michel Suleiman in the cabinet.[5][10] His appointment was one of the major points significantly discussed during the negotiation process for the establishment of the cabinet.[10] He is considered to be a friends with both the Lebanese president Michel Sulaiman and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader Michel Aoun.[10] In fact, he is seen as a member of FPM.[8][11]

In 2011, Charbel proposed the hybrid-system reform in regard to legislative elections to be held in 2013.[12] In February 2014, Charbel's term ended when Nouhad Machnouk was appointed to the post.[13][14]

Personal life

Charbel is married and has three daughters.[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.[15] 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.[16]

References

1. Nazzal, Mohamed (27 April 2012). "Marwan Charbel: I'm Not Racist". Al Akhbar. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
2. "Marwan Charbel". Beirut. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
3. "Lineup of Mikati's 30". The Daily Star. 14 June 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
4. Al Saleh, Huda (22 March 2013). "Lebanese Interior Minister on the Syrian Conflict". Asharq Alawsat. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
5. "Charbel to be the minister of interior in new cabinet". Ya Libnan. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
6. "Charbel confirms nomination for Interior Ministry top post". The Daily Star. 13 May 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
7. El Basha, Thomas (13 June 2011). "Mikati forms 30-member Lebanon Cabinet". The Daily Star. Beirut. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
8. "Lebanon's New Cabinet" (PDF). International Foundation for Electoral Systems. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
9. "New Cabinet, old realities". The Daily Star. 14 June 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
10. "The New Lebanese Government" (Assessment Report). Lebanese Information Center. July 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
11. Moubayed, Sami (22 June 2011). "Lebanese premier yet to smell victory". Asia Times. Damascus. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
12. Ekmekji, Arda Arsenian (July 2012). "Confessionalism and electoral reform in Lebanon" (PDF). Aspen Institute. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
13. "Lebanon announces new government after ten month political deadlock". Euronews. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
14. "Lebanese cabinet formed after 10-month stalemate". Al Arabiya. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
15. "Minister of Interior declares: 'Lebanon is against sodomy'". Gay Star News. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
16. "Statement from Ministry of Interior's press office regarding comments by Marwan Charbel". Facebook. Retrieved 5 May 2013.

Political offices
Preceded by Ziyad Baroud	Interior Minister of Lebanon 2011-2013	Succeeded by Nouhad Machnouk