Religion in Lebanon
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Lebanon has several different main religions. The main two religions are Islam (Sunni, Shia, and Druze) and Christianity (the Maronite Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Armenian Apostolic Church).
No official census has been taken since 1932, reflecting the political sensitivity in Lebanon over confessional (i.e. religious) balance.[1] The 1932 census showed that about 59% were Christians, mainly Maronites, with the remainder (39%) compromising of different islamic sects, both sunni and shia included.
Lebanon has a population of Kurds (also known as Mhallami or Mardinli), most of whom migrated from northeast Syria and southeast Turkey are estimated to be between 75,000 and 100,000 and considered to be part of the Sunni population. These have in recent years been granted Lebanese citizenship and hence re-tipped the demographic balance in favour of the Muslims and the Sunnis in particular. [2] In addition, many thousands of Arab Bedouins in the Bekaa and in the Wadi Khaled region, who are entirely Sunnis, were granted Lebanese citizenship.
Even though Lebanon is a secular country, family matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance are still handled by the religious authorities representing a person's faith. Calls for civil marriage are unanimously rejected by the religious authorities but civil marriages held in another country are recognized by Lebanese civil authorities.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Country Studies. "Lebanon Population". Retrieved November 25, 2006.
- ^ International Journal of Kurdish Studies, Jan, 2002 by Lokman I. Meho "The Kurds in Lebanon: a social and historical overview"
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