Marwan Charbel
Minister of Interior and Municipalities
In office
13 June 2011 – February 2013
Prime MinisterNajib Mikati
Preceded byZiyad Baroud
Succeeded byNohad Machnouk
Personal details
Born1947 (age 76–77)
NationalityLebanese
Children3
Alma mater
Military service
RankBrigadier 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

  1. ↑ Mohamed Nazzal (27 April 2012). "Marwan Charbel: I'm Not Racist". Al Akhbar. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  2. 1 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. ↑ Huda Al Saleh (22 March 2013). "Lebanese Interior Minister on the Syrian Conflict". Asharq Alawsat. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  5. 1 2 "Charbel to be the minister of interior in new cabinet". Ya Libnan. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Charbel confirms nomination for Interior Ministry top post". The Daily Star. 13 May 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  7. ↑ Thomas El Basha (13 June 2011). "Mikati forms 30-member Lebanon Cabinet". The Daily Star. Beirut. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  8. 1 2 "Lebanon's New Cabinet" (PDF). International Foundation for Electoral Systems. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  9. 1 2 3 "The New Lebanese Government" (PDF). Lebanese Information Center. July 2011. Archived from the original (Assessment Report) on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  10. ↑ 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)
  11. ↑ Arda Arsenian Ekmekji (July 2012). "Confessionalism and electoral reform in Lebanon" (PDF). Aspen Institute. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  12. ↑ "Lebanon announces new government after ten month political deadlock". Euronews. 15 February 2014. Archived from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  13. ↑ "Lebanese cabinet formed after 10-month stalemate". Al Arabiya. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  14. ↑ "Minister of Interior declares: 'Lebanon is against sodomy'". Gay Star News. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  15. ↑ "Statement from Ministry of Interior's press office regarding comments by Marwan Charbel". Facebook. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
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