Bashir Khedr, Governor of Baalbek Hermel
Bashir Khader, the governor of Baalbek-Hermel in Lebanon, sparked widespread controversy on social media in the country following a statement in which he criticized some calls for increased aid to the displaced Syrians in Lebanon.
In a coordination meeting for the associations, which was called by the “Dar Al-Fatwa” in the Lebanese region of Baalbek, the coordinator of the displaced camps in the Arsal region demanded an increase in the contributions for the displaced, and held the governor Khader responsible for their difficult conditions, asking him to work to improve them.
The words of the displaced camp coordinator elicited a response from the Lebanese governor, who said, “The governor’s job is the highest administrative position in the Lebanese state, while my salary is less than that of the displaced Syrian in Lebanon.”
He added, “Syrians receive benefits that Lebanese do not, and this exodus cannot be forever apart from racism.”
The governor pointed out that there is a great burden on Lebanon, and therefore it is not possible to bear more, as he put it.
Khadr refused to call the Syrians refugees. He said, “You are displaced. This is your legal designation in the Lebanese state. You must respect the country that hosts you and its laws. I apologize to you. You are officially displaced, not a refugee.”
Speaking regarding the suffering of public sector employees in Lebanon, Khader said that the Lebanese employee’s salary is low, “All the burden is on us, we are not able to carry more responsibilities on our shoulders.” He added, “In light of the crisis, I am willingly ready to work for free for Lebanon, because it is my country, but we are not ready to work for free for other matters, and we cannot bear more following a crisis that has been going on for 12 years.”
“brave words”
Social media was abuzz with the governor’s words, and opinions were divided regarding its content between supporters and opponents.
From the video clip that the governor posted on his Twitter account, it was noted that the applause rose between one phrase and another while the governor delivered his speech, and the governor’s name was trending on Twitter in Lebanon.
Many praised the governor’s performance and his “courage” in dealing with the sensitive issue of Syrian refugees.
Some believed that the time had come for the refugees to return to their safe countries, especially in light of the disastrous living conditions that the Lebanese suffer from.
Others considered that the governor “put his finger on the wound…and the displacement is supposed to have a time limit…and he cannot stay forever.”
Others rejected the description of some of the governor’s words as racist, considering that “racism means refusing “help” .. But to provide it humanely for 12 years, and when it becomes a burden beyond your capabilities and capabilities, you demand more, and you know with certainty that whoever asks for help gets multiple times your income, then your acceptance and silence become “You’re being racist.”
Others expressed their hope that “the first task of the new president upon his election will be” to save Lebanon from the demographic catastrophe and the existential threat posed by the refugees, as they put it.
“racist and narrow-minded”
On the other hand, the governor’s words received a torrent of criticism, anger, and accusations of racism.
Some considered that his words were nothing but “narrow eyes and greed for refugees’ allowances.”
Some called on him to solve the problem of his salary with his state and government, which brought him and the Lebanese to this situation because of corruption in the country, and they reached what they reached, “But with such mentalities in the Lebanese state, you understand why Lebanon has reached here… Oh, forbidden, Lebanon.”
Others attacked the governor, saying that he should have attacked those who caused the crisis and attacked the Lebanese parties that intervened in Syria and contributed to “the killing and displacement of Syrians.”
Syrian refugees in Lebanon are believed to make up nearly a quarter of the country’s population of six million, the highest proportion in the world.
The deteriorating economic conditions in Lebanon have led to eighty percent of the population becoming in a state of poverty.