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“Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale?”

- William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

About Halim Shebaya

Halim Shebaya is a Beirut-based analyst and researcher. He teaches in the School of Arts and Sciences at the Lebanese American University and has worked on social and political affairs for a number of local and international organisations. His articles have appeared in the World Post, Huffington Post, Al-Jazeera English, Jadaliyya, Legal Agenda, Annahar, Assafir, and Al Akhbar. He holds an M.Div. in Theology (NEST), M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies (SOAS), and an L.L.M. in Public International Law (Nottingham). Find him on Twitter @halimshebaya

Articles by Halim Shebaya

This week's editor

Rosemary Bechler is openDemocracy’s Editor.

Digital Liberties

How to fight for digital human rights?

European integration

Six countries. Six different paths to EU integration.

No to TTIP

The secretive EU-US trade deal explained

Constitutional conventions: best practice

The European Court has normalized 'Hijabophobia'

Halim Shebaya 15 March 2017

What did the European Court’s ruling of March 14 say in the case of Samira Achbita’s dismissal by G4S because she wanted to wear the headscarf to work?

Arab world’s first ordained female pastor is historic

Halim Shebaya 4 March 2017

Rola Sleiman made history. She now carries the title of ‘Reverend’ of the Presbyterian Church, the first woman to be ordained in a Middle Eastern Church on February 26, 2017 in Tripoli, Lebanon.

Marine Le Pen in Lebanon: mission accomplished?

Halim Shebaya 22 February 2017

Where to start in discussing Marine Le Pen’s visit to Lebanon? The French “Trump without the crazy” got her first meeting with a head of state and performed a successful media stunt.

Sir Nigel Rodley versus Donald Trump on torture

Halim Shebaya 1 February 2017

The novelty and danger posed by the new US president is the fact that he either does not know, or does not care, that the prohibition of torture is one that is considered to be fundamental.

Trump can't simply delete a dangerous campaign

Halim Shebaya 14 November 2016

Attacking your opponent is one thing during the campaign, but attacking entire groups has far-reaching effects that do not get ‘deleted’ so quickly.

Lebanon's foreign minister shouldn't celebrate Trump. Here's why

Halim Shebaya 10 November 2016

Lebanon should not celebrate any foreign president or leader who espouses “poisonous rhetoric” that affects a large portion of its population.

On Israel flattening Beirut: there is nothing new under the sun

Halim Shebaya 22 February 2016

The infamous Haaretz op-ed restates an 11-year-old thesis known as the "Dahiya Doctrine," developed and implemented during the 2006 Lebanon War and the 2014 Gaza assault.

Can Hariri coexist with a strong Christian president in Lebanon?

Halim Shebaya 1 February 2016

Hizbullah Chief Nasrallah is unwavering in his support for Aoun. Now, following Geagea’s endorsement of Aoun, can Hariri accept the Lebanese Christians’ preferred candidate?

Saudi executions: beyond the numbers

Halim Shebaya 8 January 2016

The inability to recognise an affront to the rule of law, regardless of the identity of the perpetrator, reveals the region’s dire state of affairs, politically, morally, and intellectually. Arabic

Trump and Islamophobia: discrimination fuels terror

Halim Shebaya 13 December 2015

For Trump’s supporters, what they believe to be the ‘truth’ is a matter of no small significance. Now, and as a matter of urgency, an effective way in which to counter prevalent xenophobic public opinion must be found.

From Beirut to Paris, we are all hypocrites and selective grievers

Halim Shebaya 16 November 2015

In legitimately condemning selective grief, Lebanon (and the world) forgets that it selectively grieves all the time. We must acknowledge our ineptitude at dealing with human suffering and show solidarity with all. عربي

Lebanon's foreign minister under fire: a comment on Gebran Bassil's real estate holdings

Halim Shebaya 11 November 2015

In order to promote accountability, the Lebanese public and journalists have to abide by a code of conduct that respects the right to a fair trial and the right to a defence.