On Apr. 13, instead of commemorating the outbreak of the civil war, some Lebanese will hold a civil wedding in Martyr’s Square. A group of young Christian and Muslim men and women are organizing a collective civil-wedding ceremony.

This event will take place amid an ongoing debate on a personal status civil law that was first proposed in the early 1950s, although many political and religious leaders continue to refuse to legalize civil marriage. As a result, many Lebanese seeking a civil marriage travel to other countries that permit it. Ironically, once these civil marriages are registered in Lebanon, Lebanese courts rule according to the law of the countries where the marriage took place.

There have been a number of attempts by individuals, groups and parties to legalize civil marriage, but without success. On Apr. 2, 1951, the parliament issued a law defining the powers of Christian authorities, and many members of parliament stressed the need to legalize a personal status civil law. But both Muslim and Christian clergy joined hands to push for a law that would grant religious courts powers similar to civil courts. At the time, the bar association carried out a six-month strike in protest. The association didn't stop the strike until it received a promise to consider a draft law on personal status, as part of the project of the parliamentary administration and justice committee.

It began with a 1957 initiative by Raymond Edde. He did not put forth a draft, but he raised ideas and proposals in parliament, and the Lebanese National Bloc supported the optional personal status draft law. Several attempts followed, including: