Inter-Religious Land Sales Sparks Controversy (Land-Sales‪)‬

A proposal calling for a 15-year ban on property and land sales between Lebanese Christians and Muslims has triggered a nationwide controversy in the multi-sectarian country, with some saying that the move is aimed at halting the sale of Christian lands to supporters of the powerful Shiite Hizbullah group. Caretaker Labor Minister Butros Harb, author of the proposal announced in December, said the draw law was aimed at "safeguarding national coexistence." In the draft legislation, which is yet to be submitted to the Cabinet and later to the Parliament, Harb cited fears that the demographic balance in Lebanon would be affected by a recent "quasiorganized" trend in land sales from members of one religion to another. "An unhealthy situation is developing and all I am doing is raising the alarm. I am saying out loud what everyone else is whispering," Harb told AFP on January 6. "Lebanon symbolizes coexistence among the various religions and if one pillar of this coexistence crashes, the whole country falls. I want to preserve Lebanon's diversity," said Harb, who is a Christian Maronite.