Across the world, bans on social gatherings are still in place to curb the spread of coronavirus. However, recently many have broken rules for their own pleasure. A Lebanese beauty queen did the same and hosted her wedding on August 1.
The beauty queen and actress, Valerie Abou Charca, who happens to be Miss Lebanon 2015, married Lebanese businessman, Ziyad Ammar, in an open-space wedding venue in Bkerke. After the wedding ceremony, a wedding gala was held for family and friends of the newlyweds.
This occurred despite the government-imposed lockdown, with strict regulations by the health and interior ministries.
Some Lebanese citizens took to social media to express how irresponsible Charca was for allowing her wedding plans to continue despite the upsurge in coronavirus cases and the strict lockdown in the country. They criticised the couple and said that they were socially irresponsible.
Others, however, sang her praise and said that her wedding was beautiful.
Following the criticism, several ministries made statements about how some rescheduled weddings were allowed to go ahead with regulations in place, according to Arab News.
Health Minister Dr. Hamad Hassan, in a televised interview, said that he had made exceptions for seven specific weddings to continue despite the lockdown. However, if they had not followed procedural rules then the wedding would be reconsidered by the Interior Ministry.
“We have to adapt and live the joys and sorrows, but with certain procedures,” he said.
There has been no confirmation that Charca’s nuptials were one of the seven functions that were allowed. However, an official told Arab News that “Part of the regulations were that the party be held outdoors, social distancing be respected and the number of invitees must be limited in accordance to the venue’s seating and accommodation”.
According to a member of Lebanese media, Yomna Sherry, the wedding was stopped by officials, however this has not been confirmed by any official or Charca herself.
Image: Instagram / Valerie Abou Chacra Magazine
