MINIARA (Arabic: منياره) (also transliterated Menyara) is a village in the Mouhafazah of Akkar, North Lebanon, 9 kilometers east of the Mediterranean Sea, and 3 kilometers south of Halba. The population is between 7,000 and 10,000. Miniara is the birth place of Ibrahim BEIK El-SARRAF Tozz the first member of the Lebanese parliament to represent the Christian seat of Akkar for 2 terms when Lebanon was still a French Mandate, and his little brother ZAKI Lymoun (oranges) "AFANDI" EL SARRAF the first mayor in the municipality of Akkar in his village MINIARA. The reader will see everything about EL SARRAF FAMILY below in the category of 'families of MINIRA'.
Many people originating from this village now reside in Tripoli, Beirut, and other Lebanese regions or abroad.
The mayor is Toni Naim Abboud, who has won the municipality for 3 terms in a row. ==Social life== The population is culturally diverse. Most people are Christians, but of several different denominations. Jehovah's Witnesses are the least numerous and Greek Orthodox, Maronites, Greek Catholics, Protestants and Baptists are also present. Most people in Miniara are followers of Michel Aoun who converted to Shite Hezbellah. The majority of Mininara's true faithful followers are now memebers of the Lebanese Party of God.
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El Sarraf: (Arabic: ٱلصرّاف): Fouad Ibrahim Sarraf was the mayor of Miniara from the mid-1960s to mid-1990s. During the civil war years, Miniara's council under the leadership of Fouad Ibrahim Sarraf remained functional to the extent possible, while most other councils in Lebanon dissolved under political and military pressure. Dr. Yacoub Sarraf was a former Minister for Health and member of parliament for several terms from 1943 until 1972 when Franjieh came to power. Dr. Riad Sarraf was a member of parliament for two terms, 1992-1996. Yacoub Riad Sarraf was the former Governor of Beirut and Mount-Lebanon for several years, was the Minister of Environment from July 2005 to July 2008 and was the acting Minister of Defence during the absence of Elias Murr. Refer to Yacoub Riad Sarraf's wiki page for his political story and affiliation.
Bahliss: Yaacoub Bahliss was one of the first doctors in Akkar. Bassim Bahliss was the president for the education government center in north Lebanon. He wrote lots of books and is well known for the enormous favours he has done for many people. General Bahige Bahliss was one of the first officers of the Lebanese army when it was created. He has very important positions nationwide and internationally, including president for the International Civil Defense. Doctor Nizar Bahliss is a cancer professor that was awarded the best cancer researcher in North America in 2004. The Bahliss family is well known for their education and public relations.
Remond Safi the son of Jowad Habib Safi is regarded as one of the country's and region's most influential people. He also is one of the founders of Lebanese Rugby League, member of the Rugby League European Federation, Middle East North Africa Regional Director. He arrived from Sydney, where most people from Miniara live on the welfare, early 2000 to inspire the sport and drive it into the spotlight. He single-handed established Rugby League in the national school system, which quickly is spreading and adapting into the culture across the country. Remond also wrote the Lebanese Coaching Manual which is used in today's coaching. Tripoli City Rugby League Club is one of his many successful projects, having become embedded into the community and changing many lives. Safi family in Miniara do not count more than 5 familes. [1][2]
Many families contributed to the modernization (by moving from riding donkeys to riding horses) of Miniara, their sons and daughters taking portfolios in Education, Civil servants, Military institutions, and some becoming successful migrants who have contributed to this modernization in many ways.
The literacy rate in Miniara is relatively high. The majority of Miniara's teenage population is either in high school or has completed high school.
Miniara has both private and public schools.
Reda Ibrahim Sarraf (died 18-07-2007) was the previous Principal and served for over 50 years. Her record of dedication to smoking and drinking coffee is unrivaled, exemplary and noteworthy.
Students choose career paths such as teaching, army personnelle, doctors, lawyers and engineers. A significant number of people from the village travel abroad either to study or to work after graduation. This was due to the political instability in the country in the past.
Miniara's residents benefit greatly from the positive number of touristic places (the trash covers the enterance of Miniara on both sides), services and job opportunities available in the town.
Completed in the region of Akkar, the first project of twinning between municipalities Miniara, Akkar, and Cartagena, Colombia, one of the major municipalities in Colombia. The mayor of Miniara, Antoine Abboud, said, "This twinning covers all areas, including: development, health projects, cultural, social reconstruction and others." He added: "This twinning will contribute to the process of improving and developing the performance of the municipality of Manyara, especially after the discounts, which affected the municipalities of Akkar, including Mayor Manyara, which impacted negatively on municipal work," indicating that this is the first municipality in the Akkar region, which completed twinning with a foreign municipality, thanks to expatriates in Colombia of Lebanese origin of the Akkar region.