Iraq gives the Lebanese a unique “exception”

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[size=52]Iraq gives the Lebanese a unique “exception”[/size]

[size=45]The American Al-Hurra TV said that an agreement between the Lebanese and Iraqi authorities sparked controversy in the Lebanese public opinion, when the two countries were allowed to “manual” renewal of expired passports for the Lebanese wishing to visit the holy sites and religious tourism in Iraq, who in turn would agree to the entry of the Lebanese through them on an exceptional basis. And contrary to the procedures approved by the International Civil Aviation Organization.[/size]
[size=45]This comes at a time when the Lebanese are suffering from obtaining the passport, after the General Directorate of General Security in Lebanon stopped receiving requests for obtaining it, after the stock of biometric passports was almost depleted, as a result of the Lebanese authorities' inability to finance the printing and import of new quantities of them that meet the high demand. them in the country.[/size]
[size=45]The General Directorate of Lebanese Public Security had announced, in a statement, that as a result of the discussions held by the Director General of Public Security, Major General Abbas Ibrahim, during his recent visit to the Republic of Iraq, it was agreed to allow Lebanese nationals, who are exclusively visitors to the holy sites, to enter Iraqi territory as a bond. Renewed passports.[/size]
[size=45]According to details reported by the “Central” news agency, quoting an official source in the Lebanese Public Security, Major General Abbas Ibrahim obtained an exceptional approval from the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, to enter Lebanese people into Iraq with manually renewed passports that are used only once, in order to visit the holy sites. in Iraq, indicating that it cannot be used for travel to other countries.[/size]
[size=45]And the Lebanese General Security, with the start of the passport crisis that Lebanon has been experiencing for nearly two years, had made, according to the source, contacts with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), as Lebanon is a member of it, in order to discuss the possibility of renewing passports that have expired manually, but this The organization did not agree, considering that the matter contradicts international rules and rules regulating biometric passports and the movement of people between countries.[/size]
[size=45]The procedure that saved the General Security from using new passports, to be able to grant them to the Lebanese applicants, according to the source, raised a great wave of objection in the Lebanese public opinion, especially since most religious visits to Iraq are carried out by the Lebanese Shiites, which are almost exclusively with them, which gave The issue has a sectarian and sectarian dimension in the country, which is witnessing sharp divisions between its sectarian and political components.[/size]
[size=45]Some considered that the decision included a “discrimination” between Lebanese citizens, and a “preference” for one group at the expense of the rest, especially since hundreds of Lebanese have suffered from loss of job, study and travel opportunities outside the country, in the past period, due to their inability to obtain new passports, which is What raised controversy about the priorities and considerations that govern the efforts of the Lebanese authorities.[/size]
[size=45]Expansion of the agreement The agreement
soon expanded to include a broader category of Lebanese wishing to visit Iraq, where the Lebanese General Security issued a statement later in which it announced that Iraq had officially agreed to expand the scope of benefit from the procedure followed with visitors to the holy sites, to include “every Lebanese who wishes to visit Iraq duly and with a passport.” Renewed travel with a special seal for this purpose.”[/size]
[size=45]The statement explained that this procedure came “after the Directorate received calls from Lebanese citizens who wish to visit Iraq for various reasons, including trade and work, and wished the General Security to be included in the Iraqi government’s decision to allow them to enter its territory with a manually renewed Lebanese passport, and with a special stamp so that they would not lose their work.” and their jobs until they can later obtain a new biometric passport.[/size]
[size=45]Accordingly, contacts with officials in Iraq resumed, and the official agreement was agreed that the procedure would include all Lebanese, according to the statement in which the General Security Directorate confirmed to Lebanese public opinion “so that matters would not be mixed up,” that there were those who “distorted and distorted it into sectarian paths.” despicable as usual,” while “these passports are valid for the holder who wishes to travel only to Iraq to facilitate his business on the one hand, and on the other hand to save the directorate’s remaining stock of biometric passport forms to be given to the Lebanese who desperately need them in accordance with the announced standards.” previously".[/size]
[size=45]Renewal conditions
The Lebanese General Security, in its statement, mentioned the conditions required to complete the manual renewal process:[/size]
[size=45]That they have a “2003” passport or a biometric passport that is not tainted by any physical distortion, provided that the solar drawing on the passport shows no change in the characteristics of the person concerned.[/size]
[size=45]The person concerned should present an identity card with a copy of it, or an individual registration statement, the date of which is no more than three years old, with a copy of it.[/size]
[size=45]The person concerned must apply in person to one of the regional public security centers and within the official working hours, as of the morning of Wednesday, July 27, 2022.[/size]
[size=45]And the General Security removed the condition that “the visit shall be exclusively for visiting the holy sites.”[/size]
[size=45]In a televised intervention with him, the Director General of Lebanese Public Security, Major General Abbas Ibrahim, explained that the International Aviation Organization prevents the renewal of extended passports, noting that any country that a citizen goes to with this passport designated to visit Iraq, will return from where he came.[/size]
[size=45]Ibrahim pointed out that Iraq was the one who agreed to the entry of Lebanese citizens to renew their passports, expressing the readiness of the General Security to implement this exception with any country that agrees to enter the holders of extended passports, and thanked the State of Iraq "for this response."[/size]
[size=45]He added: "I reviewed many reactions on social media, and I did not want to respond because the ignorant is ignorant no matter what was explained to him, unless he has certain agendas, public security is far from them."[/size]
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