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While the democratic republic of Lebanon is arguably the most westernized and diverse of the Arab countries, with 18 religious communities coexisting after a 17-year civil war, it is also a country, like neighboring Israel that recognizes only civil marriages performed outside its borders. It is a restriction that underscores the power of religious authorities over even the most intimate aspects of daily life in this majority Muslim state. The balance of religious power in Lebanon is maintained by a carefully selected triumvirate: a Maronite Christian president, Sunni Muslim prime minister and Shiite Muslim speaker of the National Assembly. Although many Lebanese would prefer not to state whether they belong to a church or a mosque, citizens' religious affiliation is clearly stamped on every identity card and most are still governed by the law of their religion. But even though secular ideas increasingly are running up against the power of traditional religious belief, it will be a long while before civil marriages are performed in Lebanon, observers say. When former president Elias Hrawi tried last year to enact an optional civil marriage law, the project was shelved. "The government had to back up because the topic was too hot and at a time of political and economic instability, they feared an explosion of violence, especially among Muslims," said Pierre Ganage, a professor of Interdenominational law at the Jesuit Saint-Joseph University. Because a couple cannot marry under both religions, one religious authority always will control the affairs of the marriage, Ganage said. And religious leaders on all sides are reluctant to accept civil marriage because they fear losing their powerful influence on Lebanese society, he added. "Even though the government was willing to push forward civil marriage for the simple reason that government officials did not want to be considered 'reactionary' and 'old-fashioned', their commitment was not strong enough to bypass the power of the religious authorities," Ganage said. Next Page Previous Page