Gebran Tueni

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. Image File history File linksMetadata NP_1999_D_20_29. ... Image File history File linksMetadata NP_1999_D_20_29. ... Arabic ( or just ), is the largest member of the family of Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family (classification: South Central Semitic) and is closely related to Hebrew, Amharic, and Aramaic. ... September 15 is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years). ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 19 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... An-Nahar is a leading daily newspaper in Lebanon. ... Beirut ( translit: ) is the capital, largest city, and chief seaport of 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. This does not cite its references or sources. ...

Tueni had degrees in journalism, international relations and management from French universities. His uncle was the anti-Syrian Druze Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh. Druze star The Druze or Druz (also known as Druse; Arabic: derzī or durzī درزي, pl. ... Telecommunication involves the transmission of signals over a distance for the purpose of communication. ...

Tueni came to international prominence in March 2000 when he wrote an editorial calling for the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon. 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 whom informed Lebanese political analysts believe to have been a Syrian intelligence agent. An editorial is a statement or article by a news organization (generally a newspaper) that expresses an opinion rather than attempting to simply report news, as the latter should ideally be done without bias. ... Cedar Revolution has become the most commonly used name for the chain of demonstrations and popular civic action in Lebanon (mainly Beirut) triggered by the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on February 14, 2005. ... Lebanese parliament building at Place dÉtoile in Beirut The Parliament of Lebanon is the Lebanese national legislature. ... The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest Christian organization in the world (or third if one sees Protestantism as a single entity). ... Saadeddine Rafik Hariri (born April 1970) is the younger son of Rafik Hariri, the assassinated former prime minister of Lebanon. ... Rafiq Bahaa Edine Hariri (born November, 1944) is a Lebanese billionaire businessman, and was Prime Minister of Lebanon until his resignation on October 20, 2004. ... The Qornet Shehwan Gathering is a Lebanese political organization, comprising politicians, intellectuals, and businessmen, mostly Christian and ranging in ideology from the centre-right to the center-left. ...

His assassination

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. Assassin and Targeted killing redirect here. ... Car bomb in Iraq, made from a number of concealed artillery shells in the back of a pickup truck. ... December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 19 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Strugglers for the Unity and Freedom of al-Sham is a terrorist group claiming to be responsible for the murder of Gebran Tueni. ... The traditional Arabic term Bilad al-Sham (Arabic: بلاد الشام , also transliterated bilad-ush-sham etc. ... Reuters Group plc (LSE: RTR and NASDAQ: RTRSY); pron. ...

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. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, and social equity. ... Rafik Baha ad-Din Hariri — (November 1, 1944 – February 14, 2005), (Arabic: ‎) a self-made billionaire and business tycoon, was the Prime Minister of Lebanon from 1992 to 1998 and again from 2000 until his resignation on 20 October 2004. ... A prime minister is the most senior minister of a cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. ... Fouad Siniora (alternative spellings: Fouad Sanyoura, Fuad Siniora, Fouad Saniora, Fouad Seniora) (Arabic: ‎, Fuād As-Sanyūrah) is the Prime Minister of Lebanon, a position he assumed on 19 July 2005, succeeding Najib Mikati. ... The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is the organ of the United Nations charged with maintaining peace and security among nations. ...

Before his death, Tueni was campaigning for an international probe into recently discovered mass graves in Anjar next to the main Syrian intelligence headquarters. 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 and 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. December 14 is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Gebran Tueni

• The Song of Gibran: a tribute by a niece of the late journalist, Ya Libnan, 5 January 2006
• Photos of Gibran Tueni's Funeral, Ya Libnan, 16 December 2005
• Gibran Tueni Assassination & Funeral day Pictures
• Lebanon PM urges UN investigation, BBC News, 12 December 2005
• Lebanon loses a leader. Tueni killed in a car bomb, Ya Libnan, 12 December 2005
• Press freedom groups condemn Tueni assassination, IFEX, 13 December 2005
• Lebanon mourners vent Syria fury, BBC News, 14 December 2005
• Obituary: Gibran Tueni was on top of Syria's hit list, Ya Libnan, 12 December 2005
• Selected editorials by Gibran Tueni
• World Association of Newspapers announces award in honour of Gibran Tueni - IFEX
• Lebanese Portal dedicated to Annahar newspaper and Gebran Tueni
• Connecting the dots in Lebanon