Patriarch Bechara Rahi warns against turning Lebanon into a dictatorship
March 28, 2022, 2:00 pm

Patriarch Bechara Rahi warns against turning Lebanon into a dictatorship

Bechara Boutros Al-Rai/Facebook page

The Asharq Al-Awsat reported, Lebanese Patriarch Bechara Rahi warned on Sunday from attempts to turn Lebanon into a “police state and dictatorship.”

Rahi accused the authority of imposing selective and biased judiciary measures and of fabricating charges to postpone or annul the parliamentary elections scheduled next May.

Rahi said those in charge in Lebanon continue to oppress the people.

The Patriarch said during his Sunday speech in Bkirki: “Until when will officials and political figures continue to subjugate our people, and prevent them from expressing their opinions and from complaining about the situation."

He said people have an innate right to express their opinion. He warned against attempts to suppress this right, and of turning the county into a police state. He said: “These repressive measures do not resemble Lebanon."

Rahi then highlighted the “saddening and dangerous” state of Lebanon’s judiciary.

Town hall in Lebanon (File photo: Pixabay)

He said it was time for the “selective, retaliatory and politicized” judiciary to end, and for the truth behind the deadly explosions of the port of Beirut to unravel.

He asked: “Where are the judges who are supposed to protect the judiciary?”

The Patriarch also decried attempts to undermine the main institutions including Lebanese banks, the seizure of depositors' funds, and the harm inflicted on the country’s economy.

Lebanon arrests brother of embattled central bank governor over money laundering

He asked: “Is the objective of these firm measures to torpedo the legislative elections or to prevent them from being held on the scheduled dates?”

Rahi insisted that the parliamentary elections should take place on May 15 followed by presidential elections before the end of this year.

He said: “The next president of the republic should remove Lebanon from the (Syrian-Iranian) axes to neutrality."

Last week, Judge Ghada Aoun filed a lawsuit against prominent talk show host Marcel Ghanem and MTV Lebanon for alleged "libel and slander" against her persona.

Lebanese Maronite patriarch warns against calls for postponing parliamentary election

In his Thursday episode of “Sar el-Wa’et,” Ghanem spoke of how Lebanon, especially with the elections approaching, is currently being controlled by a corrupted political class led by Hezbollah, describing Judge Ghada Aoun of taking biased actions against banks.

Judge Aoun, who is close to President Michel Aoun and his political team, had filed charges against Central Bank chief Riad Salameh, as well as his brother, on charges of illegal enrichment and money laundering over the past few years, during Lebanon’s economic meltdown. Their assets have been frozen under an order from a judge.

Source: aawsat

19 people killed in shooting in central Mexico EU seeks end to golden passport schemes, suspend visa sales to Russians and Belarusians

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”