Wiam Wahhab

Wiam Wahhab (Arabic: وئام وهاب‎‎) (born 1964) is a Lebanese politician. He is a Druze from Al-jahiliyeh, Chouf District.

A journalist, and former political advisor to Lebanese Prince Talal Arslan between 1991 and 2000, he ran unsuccessfully in the legislative elections of 1996.

He was appointed as minister of the environment in the government of Omar Karami (October 2004 to February 2005), during the period when Prime Minister Rafic Hariri was assassinated.

In 2006 Wahhab founded the Arab Tawhid party,[1] which was involved in various feuds and fights against the Druze who support the Progressive Socialist Party of Walid Jumblatt.

Wiam Wahhab is part of the March 8 Alliance who also includes the Hezbollah, the Amal Movement and the Free Patriotic Movement, who is opposed to the policies of the March 14 Alliance and is aligned with the Syrian regional policies.

Wahhab has espoused Arab nationalist viewpoints, is extremely pro-Syrian, and is known for his virulent media attacks on March 14 Alliance policies and personalities.

Controversy

In a television interview during the World Cup, he said he supported Brazil for their soccer, but Germany politically "because they hate the Jews and they burned them". [2]

During a television interview, Wahhab made disparaging comments about the Niqab which Saudi women wear, and about the Saudi government, blasting the March 14 alliance of Saad Hariri for his backing from Saudi Arabia, noting Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses such as amputations and forcing women to wear the niqab, and criticizing Wahhabism, and Saudi Arabia's alliance with the United States.

This led allies of Wahhab to distance themselves from his comments. Sunni Muslim protesters yelled "There is no God but Allah", and "Wiam, you pig: you should be chained down". An Islamist organization offered $3,500 to any person who beheaded Wahhab due to his comments on the niqab.[3]

Wahhab was forced to apologize to Saudi women for the niqab remarks.[4]

Wahhab has called on Egyptian protestors to destroy the Israeli embassy.

Wahhab commented on Turkey's warnings to Syria during the 2011 uprising by claiming that Syria and Bashar Al Assad were prepared to launch 100,000 rockets at Turkey if it tried to invade.[5][6]

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ "Arab antisemitism compilation presented to the UN Part 2/2". YouTube. 2012-06-05. Retrieved 2017-03-09.
  3. ↑
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ "Wahhab slams Mikati, praises Rai’s positions". Nowlebanon.com. Retrieved 2017-03-09.
  6. ↑ "Lübnanlı bakan Esat'ın Türkiye planını anlattı - Dünya Haberleri". Sabah.com.tr. 2011-10-06. Retrieved 2017-03-09.
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