Lebanon: UN Human Rights Office alarmed at damage and destruction of buildings dedicated to religion

Since 6 October 2023, Israeli airstrikes are reported to have destroyed or severely damaged at least 10 buildings dedicated to religion.  These include:  mosques in Yaroun (6 October), Kfar Dunin (7 October), Maroun al Ras (8 October), Tayr Debba (11 October), Kfar Tibnit (13 October), Qantara (14 October), Blida (15 October), and Mijdal Salem (17 October). A women’s husseiniya in the town of Mifdoon (23 October) and a Melkite Greek Catholic church in city of Tyre (9 October) were also either destroyed or damaged.

 In addition, two mosques in Abbasieh and Al-Dhaira were destroyed or damaged with explosives by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on 13 October. On 29 October, IDF reportedly destroyed the Om At-Tout Mosque in Tyre district, South Lebanon governorate, with explosives. All wilful damage or destruction of  buildings dedicated to religion is prohibited. In recent days, attacks on sites in Baalbek in the Bekaa valley have come perilously close to the ancient temple complex which is  a UNESCO listed world heritage site.

 As civilian objects, buildings dedicated to religion and other sites of cultural significance are protected from attack under international humanitarian law unless they become military objectives. Should they lose their protection, any attacks upon them must still comply with the principles of proportionality and precaution. We stress to all parties to the conflict that special care must be taken in military operations to avoid damage to buildings dedicated to religion or other sites of cultural or historical significance – and all parties must act scrupulously to ensure their protection. 

Damage to or destruction of places of worship also impact the enjoyment of the rights to freedom of religion and to manifest one’s religion, and raise concerns regarding the protection of cultural heritage, including religious sites. The destruction of cultural heritage depletes the historical and cultural identity of the communities it represents.