Lebanon: Women gain right to open bank accounts

by Kal El on December 18, 2009 · Comments

In waht is normally considered the bastion of freedom in the Arab world, women recently won the right to open bank accounts for themselves, adn their children.

Woman opens first bank account in Lebanon

 BEIRUT (AFP)

A Lebanese woman opened a bank account in the name of her underage children on Thursday, setting a precedent in a country where females often face legal discrimination.

“I’ve been trying to open a bank account for my two sons for 10 years now, but I was continuously told that only my husband could sign the papers,” Lebanese-American Barbara Batlouni told AFP.

“It’s unfair. They’re my children too and I don’t see why I cannot, as their mother, teach them to manage their finances,” she said at the headquarters of Bank of Beirut and the Arab Countries (BBAC).

Her move came after Lebanon’s bank association altered its own rules on December 9, following a campaign to press for the change led by the Institute of Progressive Women and other groups.

A smiling Batlouni signed the first papers at BBAC for an account that named as beneficiaries her two sons, 16-year-old Samer and 14-year-old Jad.

“I’m glad that Lebanon is improving its laws,” said Samer, who along with Jad will become the official holder of the account once he turns 18.

The bank also gifted her a 1,000-dollar (790-euro) cheque as a token of their appreciation for her “fight against discrimination,” BBAC general manager Ghassan Assaf said.

While the boys’ father is Lebanese, Batlouni, the Lebanon country director of the non-profit organisation Amideast, said she insisted on opening the account herself on principle.

“Lebanese women excel in all fields, and yet they do not have their basic rights,” she said.

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  • funkybarfly
    I wonder if this "trail blazer" would have had the same success if she wanted to open bank accounts for say....her two daughters?
  • JEWHAWK
    WOW !!

    A woman having a Bank account !! What they'll think next ??

    When they will be able to divorce their unwanted husbands ?

    Frankly, this news should embarrass every single arab in the world,
    specially in the Middle East, where women are treated as sexual
    slaves, not as valuable human beings.
  • joesix_pack
    This is surprising for me. Glad to hear about it, particularly with all of the bad news going around.
    I hope this idea continues and new ones begin. As Ijcarolyne has said, it is only a start.
  • solkhar
    Yes there are changes happening, long in coming and very slow in progress. The Lebanon is a strange example, like the article says. Its close relations with and grabbing habits of the west are all very much skin-deep. For a country that is only partially Muslim, the issue of rights for women is an example of how historic Arab-sexism still is so dominant.

    Unlike the complete stupidity of the comment below, that simply for agenda-purposes generalizes to a degree of bigotry akin to the worst that say Hamas would give - the level of changes, standards and liberties differ to each country. For instance, a women in Morocco could not get a passport without her husband or father's permission until 2004 but since then has the highest women's rights in all of the Muslim World. At the same time, though, a woman was always allowed to have her own bank account since the late 70's. A child is not allowed to have one without both parents signatues, which is for protection and other legal reasons, interesting that The Lebanon does not do that.

    Tunisia and even Jordon and newspapers claim four other countries are following Morocco's examples but you will get all those strange mixes, that is why I look at some comments, like below as more than pathetic. Malaysia has a mix, and an interesting one, if your a Muslim women, you need your husband's permission to do many things administative, if your Christian, Buddhist or Hindu, no. Speaking of Hindu, it is worth noting that Indian women are subject to many restrictions as well.

    If the Calvanist parties in Europe ever get a majority, women will be banned from public office, the same would happen in Israel if the ultra-orthodox parties win.
  • Well it is a start, but still a long way from women's rights. Glad she stood for her rights,very brave. If America doesn't stay watchful the US Gov. is going to empty all the bank accounts, and no one will be writing checks except to the lousy cheating government. We'll have Uncle Obama and his mean minions to thank for that mess. GRRRRR
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