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Gebran Ghassan Tueni (Arabic: جبران تويني‎) (September 15, 1957 – December 12, 2005) was a Lebanese politician and the former editor and publisher of the mass circulation An-Nahar daily newspaper in Beirut, Lebanon.

Tueni was a third generation journalist. An-Nahar was established by his grandfather, also named Gebran Tueni, in 1933. His father, Ghassan Tueni, ran the newspaper for decades.

Tueni had degrees in journalism, international relations and management from French universities. His mother was the famous Francophone, Lebanese Druze poet, Nadia Hamadeh Tueni. His uncle was the Druze, Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh.

Tueni came to international prominence in March 2000 when he wrote an editorial calling for the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon^[1]. In March 2005, he contributed to the Cedar Revolution demonstrations during which he gave the famous "In the name of God We, Muslims and Christians, Pledge that united we shall remain to the end of time to better defend our Lebanon" speech. In May 2005 he was elected a member of Parliament of Lebanon for the Greek Orthodox seat in Beirut on an anti-Syrian slate led by Saad al-Hariri, son of assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. He was a member of the political coalition Qornet Shehwan Gathering headed by Catholic Maronite bishop Youssef Bechara.

Assassination

The member of the Parliament Tueni was assassinated by a car bomb on December 12, 2005. He has been buried at Saint Dimitrius church graves after the funeral that took place at Saint George church Beirut. Initial reports indicated that a hitherto unknown group, "Strugglers for the Unity and Freedom of al-Sham" (where al-Sham refers to ancient Greater Syria) claimed responsibility. The statement taking responsibility was faxed to Reuters and included a warning that the same fate awaited other opponents of "Arabism" in Lebanon, claiming that the assassination has succeeded in "shutting up" a traitor, and "turning An-nahar" (Arabic for Day) into Dark Night.

Tueni's assassination coincided with the release of the second progress report of a United Nations inquiry into Syria's involvement in the assassination of Rafik Hariri. In response, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora announced that he would ask the United Nations Security Council to investigate Syrian complicity in the deaths of Tueni and other prominent anti-Syrian figures.

Before his death, Tueni was campaigning for an international probe into recently discovered mass graves in Anjar next to the main Syrian intelligence headquarters. Forensic analysis later showed the graves were part of an 18th century cemetery. In his last editorial Tueni accused Syria of committing "crimes against humanity" and blamed them for the mass graves and other atrocities committed in Lebanon during their presence. His articles and editorials in An-Nahar often raised the ire of the Syrians.

Tens of thousands of mourners filled the streets of Beirut for Tueni's funeral on 14 December 2005. Many mourners blamed Syria for his death due to his antisyrian policy and they chanted anti-Syrian slogans. Members of the Lebanese parliament also observed a moment of silence during a special parliamentary session. Continuing the play on words with "An-nahar" (The Day), family members stated that night would not fall on the newspaper.

Gibran died at the age of 48 leaving a widow and 2 newly born daughters along with 2 other daughters from a previous marriage.

External links

http://www.gebrantueni.com

References

From Wikiquote

Gebran Tueni (September 15, 1957 – December 12, 2005) was a Lebanese politician, famous for his editorials in the An-Nahar daily newspaper in Beirut, Lebanon. He was assassinated by a car bomb on December 12, 2005.

Sourced

• You must realize that many Lebanese are not at ease either with Syrian policy in Lebanon or with the presence of Syrian troops in our country.
  • open letter to Syrian leader Bashar Assad, published March 23, 2000,

• We are on the edge of a new era. It can be something completely positive for Lebanon, and it can be something completely dark for Lebanon. ... That's why we are really at a turning point where anything can happen.
  • Associated Press interview, May 2000
  • This followed the withdrawl of Israeli troops from Lebanon.

Attributed

• Don't think it is easy for anyone to be forced to live abroad, far from his country, colleagues, wife and children. But sometimes I think, maybe if I am far away I will spare them difficulties and problems. I would transfer the danger to somewhere else and I would not involve those I love.
  • Interview with LBC television station

• Yes, there may be other attacks and assassination attempts. One of us may pay the price. Anyway, hopefully it will be us, not anyone else.

• The Lebanese security authorities and the remnants of the Syrian system in Lebanon, and directly the Syrian regime from top to bottom, is responsible for every crime and every drop of blood spilled.
  • June 2, 2005, following the assassination of colleague Samir Kassir

• It is time for us to put an end to our fear for which we paid a very heavy price, to face all the lies of the Syrian security regime.
  • Dec. 1, 2005, editorial in An-Nahar

• The Syrian security regime should know ... that despotic regimes and tyrants who committed massacres against humanity were pursued, prosecuted and collapsed.
  • Dec. 8, 2005, editorial in An-Nahar

External links

Wikipedia has an article about:

Gebran Tueni