In a move that underscores Lebanon’s ongoing discriminatory stance against Syrian refugees, the Lebanese Forces Party (LFP), a Christian-based political party and former militia during the Lebanese Civil War, has called on public and private schools to immediately cease the registration of “illegal” Syrian students. The directive targets children, demanding adherence to stringent residency requirements.
The party’s statement emphasized that no Syrian student should be registered unless they possess a residency permit issued by the Lebanese General Directorate of General Security, valid for the entire academic year. This effectively excludes many Syrian children from accessing education.
“We urgently appeal to the owners and directors of public and private schools and institutes in all Lebanese regions, demanding that they immediately stop registering any illegal Syrian student,” the statement read. It further asserted that UNHCR-issued asylum cards held by Syrians are not to be recognized. “The so-called asylum cards issued by the UNHCR in Lebanon contradict Lebanese laws and the aforementioned memorandum of understanding, and it is absolutely not permissible to rely on them,” the statement continued, warning that reliance on these documents would result in legal prosecution.
The statement’s language heightened anti-Syrian rhetoric, portraying the presence of Syrian refugees as a threat to Lebanon’s identity and safety. “The responsibility of the owners and directors of schools and institutes in Lebanon is primary in completing the confrontation of this illegal presence, in compliance with the laws, under the threat of national responsibility, oversight follow-up, and popular accountability, in preserving the history and existence of Lebanon,” it stated.
The ongoing restrictions are part of a broader strategy by Lebanese authorities to compel Syrians to return to Syria – despite a lack of safety, stability, or security and continued danger from the Assad regime. This includes the closure of Syrian-owned shops and institutions and arrests of individuals lacking “proper documentation.” Racist rhetoric has intensified, with political figures and media outlets attacking international entities supporting Syrians.
Issam Sharaf al-Din, the Minister of Displaced Persons in the Lebanese caretaker government, reiterated Lebanon’s insistence on the return of Syrians or their deportation to third countries. In comments to Asharq Al-Awsat, Sharaf al-Din stated Lebanon’s position on the fair distribution of displaced persons globally and the necessity of separating politics from the Syrian refugee issue. He called for facilitated maritime convoys to member states of the United Nations to address the refugee situation.
Lebanon’s policies towards Syrian refugees, particularly the targeting of children’s education, highlight a growing humanitarian concern. The exclusion from educational opportunities not only violates basic human rights but also jeopardizes the future of an entire generation of Syrian children.
, a Christian-based political party and former militia during the Lebanese Civil War, has called on public and private schools to immediately cease the registration of “illegal” Syrian students.){kind=link}