Foundation Islamic Union
Lebanon
Official Name: Republic of Lebanon (LB)
Capital city : Beirut
Important Cities: Tripoli, Sidon, Zahle, Tyre, Nabatiya.
Administrative Division: It consists of 6 provinces and 26 district governorships.
Area: 10.452 km2
Population : 6.855.000 (2021). 80% of the population lives in cities.[1]
Average Human Lifespan: 67 years.
Ethnicity: Arabs make up 83 per cent of the population. 63% of Lebanese Arabs are Muslim, 8% are Druze and the rest are Maronite Christians. 11% are Greek.
Language: The official languages are Arabic and French. The general population speaks Arabic. The languages of the non-Arab ethnic groups mentioned above are also spoken.
Religion: The state has no official religion. 60% of the population is Muslim. 60% of the Muslims are Shiite and 40% are Sunni. There are approximately 7 per cent Druze, who are also among the Muslims. However, the belief principles of the Druze are very far from the belief principles of Islam.
Geographical Situation: Lebanon, which is considered one of the Middle Eastern countries and a country of Asia Minor, is surrounded by Syria from the north and east, Palestine (under Israeli occupation) from the south, and the Mediterranean Sea from the west. The most important rivers are the Asi and Litani rivers. A significant part of its territory is mountainous. The mountain mass called Lebanon Mountains surrounds the northern part of the country in a 'U' shape. 30% of its territory is agricultural land and 8% is forest and bushland. Areas suitable for agriculture are mostly on the coast and river beds. Therefore, most of these lands are irrigated. The Mediterranean climate prevails in the coastal area, while a slightly harsher and colder climate prevails in the interior. In Beirut, the capital city on the Mediterranean coast, the average annual temperature is 24 degrees and the average annual precipitation is 501 mm.
Mode of Government: According to the state tradition still in practice in Lebanon, the president is elected from Christians, the prime minister from Sunni Muslims and the speaker of the parliament from Shiite Muslims. However, Maronite Christians are more active in the political arena. This is one of the most important reasons for internal unrest. While the sum of all Christian groups does not reach 50% of the country's population, Christians are still recognised as the majority on the political platform. In the government, all religious groups are represented according to the proportions recognised in the official protocol. In the 128-member parliament, Christians and Muslims are represented half and half. However, Druze and Alawites are also counted among Muslims.
International Organisations: Lebanon, UN, OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation), League of Arab States, IMF (International Monetary Fund), Islamic Development Bank.
Political Parties: Almost all religious ethnic groups have a political organisation. Many of these political movements also have a military arm. Not all political groups have been completely disarmed, although arms have been recovered since 1988, partly after the restoration of political authority. Falangist Party (al-Katâib): The party of Maronite Christians. In 1982, during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, guerrillas of the Lebanese Forces carried out the Sabra and Shatila massacres under the supervision of Jewish soldiers.
Emel Movement: Leftist and pro-Syrian. Its founders and leaders are Shiites. Islamic Amal: It is a Shiite party.
Progressive Socialist Party: A party of the Druze.
Lebanese Front: A party of right-wing Christians.
National Front: A party of some leftists of Muslim origin.
Lebanese Communist Party: Founded in 1924. The oldest political party in Lebanon, the Arab
is also the oldest communist party in the world.
Baath Party: It is pro-Syrian and advocates Baathist ideology.
Tashnak Party: is the party of the Armenians.
Islamic Tawhid Movement: See Islam in the country.
History: Lebanon was conquered by the Islamic armies in 636 during the time of Hz. Umar (r.a.) and was attached to the province of Damascus (Syria). Lebanon, like Syria, remained under the rule of Umayyad, Abbasid, Egyptian rulers, Seljuks, Ayyubids and Mamluks respectively after the period of Rashid caliphs. Lebanon came under Ottoman rule in 1516 and remained under Ottoman rule for 400 years until the end of World War I. The Ottomans ruled Lebanon through a governor appointed from the centre. However, they also allowed the ethnic elements living in the country to organise themselves in a way that would enable them to practice their own beliefs and traditions. In 1918, Lebanon was occupied by the French. The French co-operated with the Maronites in the country and started to oppress the Muslims. The French occupation lasted until November 1943. On 1 January 1944, the independence of Lebanon was officially recognised. After this date, France had a say in the formation of the political structure in Lebanon together with Syria. After independence, Bishar al-Huri was appointed as the President of the Republic. His presidency lasted until 18 September 1952, after which Kamil Shem'un became president. Shem'un was a Maronite Christian and his policy provoked the reaction of both Druze and Muslims. Arab nationalists who wanted Lebanon to unite with Egypt also opposed Shem'un's policy. As a result, the murder of an opposition journalist on 8 May 1958 led to a widespread reaction, which soon turned into armed protests. In response to the protests, Shem'un asked the US for help and the US landed in Lebanon on 15 July 1958. However, the events did not stop and the US tried to find a solution through political manoeuvres. In this framework, on 31 July 1958, the army commander Fuad Shihab was elected as the president to take over on 22 September 1958. After taking office, Fuad Shihab had Rashid Kerami, a Muslim, form a government. However, Christian groups opposed this and started protests across the country. The Palestinians who settled in Lebanon started to organise and engage in political activities in this country. However, the Maronite Phalangists were disturbed by this situation. Charles Hilu's presidency ended in August 1969 and he was replaced by Suleiman Feranciye (a Maronite). Tensions between the Palestinians and the Phalangists continued under Feranjiye and escalated into civil war in 1975. The civil war continued with full intensity in 1976. In September 1976, when Suleiman Feranjieh's term expired, he was replaced by Elias Sarkis. Towards the end of 1976, a Syrian-led Arab Deterrence Force was inserted into Lebanon to intervene in the events. It should be recalled that the Syrian leadership had consistently sided with the Christians in previous incidents. After the intervention, an agreement was signed under which it was agreed that the Palestinians would be stripped of their heavy weapons, that the Palestinian guerrillas would withdraw 15 kilometres from the border with the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, and that Lebanese army units and the Arab Deterrence Force would conduct inspections around the Palestinian camps. It was clear that this agreement was intended both to reassure the Zionist state of Israel against attacks by Palestinian guerrillas from the north and to restrict Palestinian movement inside Lebanon. The spread of all these events throughout the country led to the complete symbolisation of political authority in the country and the division of Lebanese territory among different groups. On the other hand, the Zionist Israeli forces carried out various air strikes in response to the Palestinian attacks from the north. The Zionist forces forced the Palestinian militias to leave Lebanon after the Arab world left the Palestinians alone. On 23 August 1982, while the Israeli occupation was still in progress, there was a change of presidency in Lebanon and Bashir Jamayel was elected to replace Ilyas Sarkis. Bashir Jamayel, who was known to have very close relations with the Zionist forces, was assassinated on 14 September 1982, before he had even completed one month in the presidency. In the atmosphere created by this incident, Israeli forces took control of the entire Muslim-majority West Beirut. Two days later, the famous Sabra and Shatila massacres took place. On 16 September 1982, the occupying Zionist soldiers besieged the Sabra and Shatila camps, where Palestinian refugees were staying, in such a way as to prevent the residents from escaping to any other place. Then the Phalangist militias entered the camps under the supervision of the Zionist soldiers and carried out a massacre. According to the Lebanese government, 991 people were killed in this massacre. One week after the assassination of Bashir Jamayel, on 21 September 1982, his brother Amin Jamayel was appointed president. Amin Jamayel asked the United States, France and Italy to send troops to Lebanon to help him establish political authority in the country. These countries, which had turned a blind eye to the Zionist Israeli occupation of Lebanon and the massacres committed in this country, accepted Amin Jamayel's request. But nothing changed. Michel Aoun, the chief of staff, used his military power to declare himself president. On the other hand, on the initiative of the Arab countries, 62 Lebanese parliamentarians, the remnants of those who had been killed in various previous assassinations, met in Taif, Saudi Arabia in October 1989 to find a solution to the presidential problem. In line with the decisions taken at this meeting, the parliamentarians held a meeting in Klayat, Lebanon on 5 November 1989 and elected Röne Muavvad as president. However, Muavvad was assassinated 17 days later, on 22 November 1989. On the other hand, he collected some of the heavy weapons in the hands of the militia groups in order to restore political stability to the country. Following these developments, a partial stabilisation and political authority was achieved in the country.[2]
Internal Problems: Although Lebanon seems to have achieved partial stability and peace, the problems that caused the conflicts and assassinations in the past have not been completely eliminated. Although some of the weapons in the hands of the militia forces have been collected, these forces have not been completely disarmed. There is also no complete reconciliation and peace between the groups. The most important internal problem of Lebanon is the issue of Palestinian refugees. External Problems: Although Lebanon is a politically independent state, it has not yet achieved real independence. Syria keeps troops in this country. On the other hand, the South Lebanese army in the service of Israel continues to exist and the Lebanese leadership is reluctant to disband it. Lebanon is under constant Israeli threat.
Islamism in the country: Lebanon is a country with many Islamic organisations.
Islamic Community: Led by Fathi Yeken, this community is an extension of the Muslim Brotherhood in Lebanon. It started to organise after 1964. It is effective among Sunni Muslims. Its strongest city is Sayda.
Hezbollah: is the most powerful Shiite organisation in Lebanon. The leader of this pro-Iranian organisation is Hussein Mohammed Fadlullah.
Islamic Amal Movement: It was founded by Shiite Muslims who left the Amal Organisation, which had previously had a Shiite structure under the leadership of Imam Moussa Sadr, after it shifted to a secular and pro-Syrian line with Nabih Berri. Its leader is Hussein Mousavi. Islamic Tawhid Movement: Organised among Sunni Muslims under the leadership of Sheikh Said Sha'ban after the 1982 Israeli invasion. Although its supporters are generally Sunnis, it follows a pro-Iranian line. Hizb al-Tahrir: Founded by Taqiyyuddin al-Nabhani, this organisation focuses on the caliphate.
Economy: Before the civil war, tourism revenues played an important role in the Lebanese economy. It had become an entertainment centre of the Middle East. However, the civil war hit the tourism sector. In today's Lebanon, a significant part of the population makes a living from agriculture, animal husbandry, fishing and handicrafts. The share of income from agriculture and animal husbandry in national income is 9%. Lebanon's most important local resources are coal and iron. Small amounts of oil and natural gas are also extracted. A number of valuable minerals are also mined. Pearl fishing is also carried out in the Mediterranean. The share of mining revenues in the gross domestic product is 5%.
Currency: Lebanese Lira.
National Income per Capita: 1400 USD
Foreign Trade: The main exports are agricultural products, petroleum products, minerals, ornaments, ready-made goods (transit trade) and fish. Imports include electrical and electronic equipment, transport vehicles and spare parts, livestock, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals and defence equipment.
Industry: Civil unrest has negatively affected the development of industry in Lebanon. However, the state of industry in today's Lebanon is still considered good. A refinery has been established at the end of two oil pipelines transporting Syrian and Iraqi oil. In addition, factories producing cement, brick, yarn and textile products have been established. Small industrial organisations and workshops are quite common.
Energy: 88% of electricity is obtained from thermal power plants and 12% from hydroelectric power plants. The average annual electricity consumption per capita is 1720 kw/hour.
Transportation: Beirut has an airport open to international traffic. The second airport in Tripoli is used for domestic transport. Beirut, Sidon and Tripoli have one large port each, which is used for export and import. In other coastal cities, there are harbours used for domestic transportation. 420 km. railway and 7400 km. road network. In this country, there is one motorised transport vehicle for 5 people on average.
Health: There are 3,810 doctors in Lebanon, with an average of one doctor per 775 people.
Education: Lebanon has 2200 primary schools, 1410 general secondary schools, 185 vocational secondary schools, 25 higher education institutions. The literacy rate is 80 per cent.
[1] www.ticaret.gov.tr(October-2021)
[2] www.enfal.de(October-2021 Access)
