The Lebanese judicial system has provided a transgender woman with the opportunity to make changes to her civil registry. Although the woman submitted her application six years ago, the decision was approved by Judge Wassim Zahreddine only in April, and the publication of the ruling was postponed until July due to fears of a negative reaction, which was agreed upon by the applicant herself.
The judge told the AFP news agency on Tuesday that he acted 'out of conviction, applying the law and for humanitarian reasons.' According to Lebanese legislation, official documents can be amended by a judge to reflect a person's gender identity.
Magistrate Zahreddine based his decision on a 2016 ruling by the Beirut Court of Appeal, which recognized the right of transgender men to change their legal documents. The judge noted that his decision, which could potentially be appealed, drew criticism from some religious figures.
The interested party, according to the judge, obtained a medical certificate in Thailand in 2019 confirming gender dysphoria and underwent surgery. The woman applied to change her civil registry in Lebanon in 2020.
The judge also pointed out that during security checks, the woman was subjected to repeated questioning about her identity, which violated her right to privacy. Despite Lebanon being considered one of the most liberal countries in the Middle East, authorities have banned LGBT events in recent years. Furthermore, a vague law stipulating punishment for sexual acts deemed 'against nature' can be used to suppress the community.