AntiLebanese

Anti-Lebanese refers to prejudice, discrimination, and hostility directed at people of Lebanese origin or ethnicity. It encompasses negative stereotypes, social exclusion, and acts of violence against individuals or communities, as well as policies or practices that limit their rights. As a form of anti-Arab and anti-Middle Eastern sentiment, it can intersect with religious biases toward Muslim, Christian, or other Lebanese communities, and may affect both citizens and immigrants of Lebanese descent.

Historically, Lebanese immigrants and their descendants in various countries have faced discrimination linked to labor competition, social tensions, or political events connected to Lebanon or the broader region. In the United States and Canada, early 20th-century immigration restrictions and social hostilities sometimes targeted people of Lebanese descent who were grouped with other “Syrian” or Middle Eastern populations. Similar patterns have appeared in other Western countries, where Lebanese communities experienced prejudice in housing, employment, education, and public life, with incidents of vandalism or hate crimes.

Responses to anti-Lebanese bias include civil rights protections, anti-discrimination laws, and advocacy by community organizations and researchers. Scholarly work emphasizes the need to distinguish ethnicity and religion, document incidents, and promote intercultural understanding. Media literacy and inclusive representation are also central to countering stereotypes.

See also: anti-Arab sentiment, Islamophobia, xenophobia, hate crime, Lebanese diaspora.