Lebanese FM implicated in sexual misconduct scandal

The foreign minister is also being criticized for his silence on constant Israeli attacks against Lebanon  

News Desk - The Cradle 

Moroccan authorities have summoned the Lebanese Consul in Rabat over recent sexual misconduct allegations involving Lebanon’s current Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji.

The development follows the circulation of a video from 2017 of a Moroccan woman, Iman Kabaj, accusing Rajji of abusing his diplomatic position during his posting as a Lebanese diplomat in Morocco eight years ago.

In the video, Kabaj said she was shocked to see that Rajji retained his diplomatic status. She claims he had renewed her passport several times while she was working in Lebanon to support her family, and alleged that he and other Lebanese men viewed Moroccan women as “prostitutes.” 

She said she was pressured into a sexual relationship with him, describing it as a result of his influence and authority.

Speaking to Al Jadeed TV on 1 April, Rajji said the incident dates back around eight years and that the matter was resolved with Moroccan authorities “in under two hours.” 

“If it were true, I wouldn’t be here today,” he added. His comments have drawn widespread backlash, with many accusing him of dismissing the seriousness of the accusations. Calls have since grown for a transparent investigation that guarantees the rights of the woman involved.

Rajji’s diplomatic career includes key roles in Washington, Brussels, Geneva, Rabat, and Amman. He has served in several top positions in Morocco’s Lebanese embassy, including the role of Charge d’Affaires. 

Rajji is affiliated with the western-backed, anti-Hezbollah Lebanese Forces (LF) party.

As foreign minister, he has faced criticism for remaining silent on Israeli attacks on Lebanon, placing full blame on Hezbollah and appearing to justify Israeli actions.

In an interview with France24 last month, when asked if he holds Hezbollah responsible for Israeli attacks on Lebanon, Rajji said, “I am not the one who holds them responsible, but the facts confirm that.”

Rajji has been vocal in calling for the implementation of UN Resolution 1559, which demands the disarmament of the Lebanese resistance and all other armed factions in Lebanon.

Social media users have called for his dismissal, demanding a foreign minister who stands with his people.