Back to Contents LGBTQI+ Palestinians 15.7. Are there reported instances of stigma, discrimination, harassment and/or violence towards LGBTQI+ stateless Palestinians by Lebanese state actors or the local community? The independent digital media platform in Arabic Daraj published an interview with the Palestinian-Syrian journalist and activist Joud Hassan: “Joud Hasan: “For me Syria is the country where I grew up. I also feel like I am Syrian. But it is related to where you lived, how you feel towards each country, how people view your nationality and how the law views your nationality. So I am in all these battles of which country I can stay in, and being a constant refugee from one place to another, so I am lost.” Interviewer: “At the same time, these countries where we are born and that we love have become too narrow for us. At the beginning of the Syrian revolution, you were an activist, you were arrested for a couple of days. You left Syria, you came to Lebanon. Lebanon was not easy. You were obliged to go to Germany. Tell me about these paths. Countries have transformed into tight places, you were obliged to seek asylum in Germany. How narrow do you think this place is for you?” Joud Hasan: “I honestly do not feel like it is narrow here [Lebanon]. Aside from the legal part. The time I spent in Lebanon is the time during which I was the freest. And I could be who I wanted to be in this country. But it was legally hard. Until now there is hardship. And it is a bit harder now until I get my papers in Germany. But as a country and its people, it was where I felt the safest. Socially speaking, but on the legal and political level it was very difficult .” Interviewer: “What do you mean by difficult?” Joud Hasan: “Getting my legal papers was hard. Because of course they do not like Palestinians.” Interviewer: “You are both Palestinian and Syrian. Which is the whole Lebanese phobia.” Joud Hasan: “I carry all these characters. Palestinian, Syrian and transgender. So it is now more difficult. There is always this struggle. As a Palestinian-Syrian, I always need to renew my residence permit and as a Palestinian there are no laws to protect me. For Syrians there is the kafala system. Whenever I needed to renew my papers they would tell me that there are no laws to be applied in this case. And when I asked about what I can do, they would say they do not know. And this is where it ends for me. “I do not know” is the answer to the question of “how do I remain here”.” (Source: Daraj Media: «I’m trans in gender...and politics» | An interview with the Palestinian-Syrian journalist and activist Joud Hassan | Noun Podcast #11” (04:14 - 06:12) July 15, 2022) Refugee Net, which, according to its website, is a “Palestinian Refugee News Network in Lebanon”,wrote in July 2022 that: “The sheikhs of the Nahr al-Bared and Beddawi Camps issued a statement calling for the cessation of activities that contradict religious values and the authenticity of the Palestinian people, praising the position of the Mufti of the Lebanese Republic rejecting all attempts or legalization of homosexuality and non-religious (civil) marriage, and appreciating the position of the Palestinian factions which supports religious values and authenticity of the Palestinian people. The statement adds, “while our people are fighting a battle to defend the land, sanctities and dignity, we are seen by institutions that conduct activities that contradict our religion, values, culture and authenticity of our people. That is why it is important for the honorable sheikhs to emphasize our refusal to promote ideas that contradict Islamic law such as: gender equality, homosexuality, CEDAW, freedom of adultery, and others.. which encourages rebellion against Islamic law, and against parents and husbands.” [In-house translation. The author is an Arabic native speaker] ORIGINAL SOURCE: ‫ مثنني عىل موقف مفتي الجمهورية‬،‫أصدر مشايخ مخيمي نهر البارد والبداوي بياناً دعت فيه لوقف االنشطة التي تتعارض مع القيم الدينية واصالة الشعب الفلسطيني‬ ‫اللبنانية الرافض لكل محاوالت مترير او ترشيع الشذوذ الجنيس والزواج الالديني (املدين) ومثمنني موقف الفصائل الفلسطينية واللجنة الشعبية املدافع ع القيم الدينية‬ ‫ تطل علينا مؤسسات تقيم انشطة تتعارض مع ديننا وقيم وثقافة‬،‫ وقال البيان يف الوقت الذي يخوض شعبنا معركة الدفاع عن االرض واملقدسات والكرامة‬.‫واصالة شعبنا‬ ،)‫ (املثلية‬،)‫ (الشذوذ الجنيس‬،)‫ (املساواة بني الجنسني‬:‫ لذا يهم اصحاب الفضيلة املشايخ التأكيد عىل رفضنا للرتويج لالفكار املخالفة للرشيعة االسالمية مثل‬،‫وأصالة شعبنا‬ .‫ وعىل االهل واالزواج‬،‫ ما يشجع عىل التمرد عىل الرشع االسالمي‬..‫ وغريها‬،)‫ (حرية الزنا‬،)‫(سيداو‬ (Source: Refugee Net: “I live alone with my chickens”... Forgotten Palestinian women activists in the camps of Lebanon”, July 1, 2022) 15. Particular hardships faced by specific profiles of stateless Palestinians 139