Ghassan Tueni

Ghassan Tueni (Arabic: غسان تويني‎‎; 5 January 1926 – 8 June 2012) was a veteran Lebanese journalist, politician and diplomat who headed An Nahar, one of the Arab World's leading newspapers.^[1] He was often referred to as the "Dean of Lebanese Journalism".^[2]

Early life

Born in Beirut on 5 January 1926 to a Greek Orthodox Christian family, Ghassan Tueni was the son of Gebran Tueni, the founder and publisher of the daily newspaper An Nahar.^[3] His hometown was Beit Mary.^[4]

Education

Tueni studied at the International College (IC) and then, at the American University of Beirut under Charles Malik who was influential in the development of his thoughts. He received a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from AUB in 1945.^[3][5] He then went to the United States to study at Harvard University where he received his master's degree in government.^[5][6] He had to abruptly interrupt his PhD at Harvard and return to Lebanon to take over the reigns of the journal when his father died.^[3]

Career

After the sudden death of his father Gebran Tueni, Ghassan, just 22 at the time, returned to Lebanon to continue publishing An Nahar. He became editor-in-chief and publisher of the paper from 1947 to 1999, and from 2003 until his death.^[1][3] He was imprisoned in the 1940s for his objections to censorship.^[7] Committed to his father's work, Ghassan developed a new team of journalists, modernising the editorial content and its production. An Nahar was at the time Lebanon's foremost daily and the Arab world's most credible and authoritative newspaper.^[8]

He became a member of parliament in 1951, at age 25.^[3] Until 1977, he served in different governmental positions, including house speaker, deputy prime minister and minister of the social affairs and labor, industry, information, energy and education.^[9][10][11] He also served as Lebanon's permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) from September 1977 to September 1982, at the peak of the civil war.^[1][6][12] During his tenure at the UN, he famously addressed the Security Council on 17 March 1978 with the emotional plea: "Let my people live!". Soon, the UNSC adopted Resolution 425, calling for Israel to immediately withdraw its forces from Lebanon.^[3] During the Lebanese Civil War, he was against Bachir Gemayel and confessed lobbying in Washington, D.C. against his presidential election.^[13] Ghassan Tueni described the 1989 Taif Agreement as the peace of the others.^[14]

After his son Gebran Tueni's assassination, Ghassan Tueni became the candidate for his son's seat in parliament and won the election.^[2][15] In June 2005, he published an article in An Nahar in which he praised Abdul Halim Khaddam's, former vice president of Syria, resignation from the Baath Party.^[16] In 2008, following clashes between pro- and anti-Syrian factions in Lebanon, he, along with other PMs, signed the Doha Agreement that ceased Lebanon’s worst fighting since the civil war. Tueni's tenure at the parliament lasted until 2009 and his granddaughter Nayla Tueni won the same seat from Beirut.^[2]

Personal life

Tueni married Nadia Hamadeh in 1954^[17] who died in 1983 after battling cancer for several years.^[6] He was predeceased by all three of his children.^[11] His son, the MP and journalist, Gebran Tueni was assassinated in 2005. At his son's funeral, he stood at the altar and pleaded, “Let us bury hatred and revenge along with Gebran.”^[2] His only daughter, Nayla, died at age 7 from cancer.^[3] Makram, his youngest son, was killed in a car crash in Paris in 1987 at age 21.^[3] A granddaughter, Nayla, is a journalist and a member of the Lebanese Parliament, like her late father, late Gebran Tueni.^[18]

Work

Ghassan Tueni's writings are extensive.^[13] In 1985, his book Une Guerre Pour les Autres (A War of Others) was published.^[19] He published another book, Enterrer La Haine Et La Vengeance (Let us bury hate and revenge), in 2009, which he dedicated to his late son Gebran.^[20][21]

Awards

• Grand Officier, National Order of the Cedar from Lebanon in 1984.^[22]

In addition, Tueni was awarded an honorary degree from the American University of Beirut in June 2005.^[7][13] In December 2009, Tueni was given the Lebanese Order of Merit for his achievements in politics.^[23] In 2009, he was also the recipient of the Life Time Achievement Award of the Arab Thought Foundation.^[22]

Death

Ghassan Tueni died on 8 June 2012 after a long illness at age 86;^[24] he spent the last month of his life at American University Hospital in Beirut.^[18] He was survived by his second wife, Shadia al Khazen^[6] and four granddaughters.^[2]

His funeral was held in Beirut on 9 June 2012.^[25] The Order of the Cedar was placed on his coffin.^[25][26] He was buried at Mar Mitr Cemetery.^[18]

On 9 June 2012, King Abdullah II sent a cable of condolences to the Tueni family^[27] as did King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.^[28] The other statesmen sent their condolences included François Hollande, Laurent Fabius, and Shiekh Sabah al Ahmed al Sabah.^[29]

Notes

• Eulogy for Ghassan Tueni

References