A/HRC/31/18/Add.1 I. Introduction 1. The Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief undertook a visit to Lebanon from 23 March to 2 April 2015. He expresses his gratitude to the Government of Lebanon for having invited him in accordance with the standing invitation extended to all thematic special procedures of the Human Rights Council. He also expresses his great appreciation to the regional office of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Beirut for its logistical, organizational and intellectual support, as well as the interest demonstrated throughout the visit and its outcome. 2. The Special Rapporteur met representatives of government agencies, with whom he had a constructive discussion, although, regrettably, some meetings that he had requested were not held. He thanks all interlocutors from the broad range of civil society organizations, academics, leaders and members of various recognized and non-recognized religious communities, refugees and migrant workers, who shared their experiences, assessments and views. The many lively, frank and open discussions held in Beirut, Tripoli, Majd Al-Anjar, Anjar and Zahle offered important insights that helped to shape his findings. 3. During some of his meetings, the Special Rapporteur was asked “why Lebanon?” This is a legitimate question. The visit was prompted by the interest of the Special Rapporteur in gaining a better understanding of the factors that have enabled Lebanon to preserve its religious diversity and generally appreciated interreligious coexistence in a complicated region. While some neighbouring States are troubled by massive violence with obvious sectarian dimensions added to political ones, the situation between religious communities in Lebanon is by and large amicable. People generally practise their religion freely, and there is no religious persecution in the country. Moreover, Lebanon has success fully kept society united across religious boundaries, and built resilience in the face of religious extremism. These are major accomplishments that cannot be taken for granted. Apart from the interest in understanding the enabling factors of these accomplishments better, the visit was also forward-looking, allowing the examination of measures that could be taken to consolidate and further develop peaceful interreligious coexistence. 4. The question “why Lebanon?” also seemed at times to indicate a somewhat narrower understanding of freedom of religion or belief, which the Special Rapporteur had come across also in other country visits. Freedom of religion or belief requires more than preventing or eliminating religious persecution. While religious persecution – which can lead to killings, mass expulsion, harassment and discrimination, arbitrary arrest and detention, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment – would without doubt constitute the most extreme forms of abuse, freedom of religion or belief may also concern restrictions that societal structures, including legislation, place on the free manifestation of religious beliefs and faith-related practices. 5. More subtle discriminatory structures are less visible and require some indepth analysis. Generally speaking, the purpose of freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief is to create an inclusive society in which the existing and emerging religious diversity may unfold freely and without any discrimination, be it Stateinduced, societal or structural. This remains a challenge for virtually all societies and countries. 4