Geagea: Al-Rahi's Stance on Syria Endangers All Christians in Region
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Monday slammed Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi’s stances on the Syrian crisis, saying his remarks “put all the Christians in the region in danger.”
“I can’t hide the fact that his statements had infuriated me, as they support the regime and contradict with our entire history and I cannot be proud of this rhetoric,” Geagea said in an interview on MTV.
“Doesn’t Patriarch al-Rahi know that the majority of Christians are against the Syrian regime? What regime is more hardline than the Syrian regime? What regime has committed only 1% of the Syrian regime’s acts against us? It is illogical to support a killer regime?” Geagea added.
He stressed that 90 percent of the region’s population cannot be “mistaken,” wondering how to describe Lebanon “if Syria is the closest country to a democratic system.”
The LF leader called on the patriarch to “quickly act in order to clarify Bkirki’s stance.”
“It is distressing that Bkirki’s position has changed,” he lamented.
“Is it reasonable for the patriarch of the Maronites to be like (Arab Tawhid Party leader) Wiam Wahhab, (Lebanon’s Baath Party leader) Fayez Shukur, Russia and China? How can we justify this position?” Geagea wondered, comparing al-Rahi to Syria’s allies in Lebanon and the world.
“My basic stance on the Syrian revolution is that I am against a dictatorial regime and with a people demanding freedom and I’m sad for the patriarch, his position, his image and the image of the church, as what will we tell the upcoming generations? Should we tell them that the patriarch backed the regime?” Geagea went on to say.
Asked whether the “Cedar Revolution” set an example for the Arab Spring, Geagea said: “The Syrian people saw how the Lebanese people defeated the Syrian army, so they seized the chance to stage their revolution with the coming of the Arab Spring.”
Asked about his recent trips to Qatar and Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region, Geagea said: “It’s not the first time I visit Arab countries and my latest visit had nothing to do with reports suggesting that I’m seeking to become the next president.”
“My visit to Kurdistan had nothing to do with (Syrian National Council chief) Burhan Ghalioun’s visit which took place two days earlier,” Geagea added, noting that “there is no coordination with the (opposition) Syrian National Council.”
“Our stance is political and an act of solidarity,” he clarified.
Separately, Geagea stressed that “the Syrian revolution has not reached a dead end at all.”
“The Syrian forces’ storming of (the Homs neighborhood of) Baba Amr represented an
extra negative point against the regime,” he added.
“Demonstrations in Homs did not stop after the storming of Baba Amr and in my opinion the Syrian revolution cannot go backwards.”
Asked about the entry of Syrian gunmen to Lebanon, Geagea said: “We do not accept at all the entry of gunmen from Syria and should a gunman enter Lebanon he must hand over his weapon and we must treat him as a political refugee.”
“We must aid refugees according to the international standards, but it is wrong to describe them as infiltrators with all that is happening in Syria,” he said.
Slamming Premier Najib Miqati’s government over its domestic and regional policies, Geagea described it as “the worst and most unsuccessful government in Lebanon’s history.”
12 years
Allouchi is LF name.
12 years
Doesn't that make him like Hassouni as well??? I do not see you having a problem with your turban leader making extremist remarks and planning an inslamic state in Lebanon?
So according to your logic ... anyone who is not in line with your Hassouni andwaiting for his orders like the retarted General ... is now either a Christian Extremist or a Salafi .... cool ... nice logic!
12 years
here we go again, going backwards to go forward. Hands up if you know any of these leaders we current have that doesn't have blood on their hands during the war.. I'm happy to follow the more dignified one not the most corrupt, unlike most of you who defend these guys for no logical reason. I'd even vote for hussouny if he truly had the best interest of lebanon at heart. And before you try to convince me otherwise..don't waste your time.
12 years
A man that symbolizes the lebanon we want! allah yikhalik ya rab
12 years
I agree with you on this one, especially Aoun.
12 years
fakhamet el hakim sooner or later
bilad el arz already prevailing
12 years
good for him..telling it like it is...This Patriarch is alienating my Maronites...I for one...bring back Sfeir....what a HUGE mistake Rai was...wos....
12 years
wow, not wos:) Rai is the worst Patriarch in the history of the Maronite Patriarchate...the worst, in 1600 years...that says alot...
12 years
Freedom of speech, both DrDeagea and AlRahi have the right to speak their minds. In my opinion, religion should be dissociated from politics as it was in Europe centuries ago. It doesn't mean it cannot influence but in Lebanon and the entir middle east it's overwhelming. (Iran theocrats, Saudi-Arabia, etc...)
12 years
Rahi talks too much...Geagea not enough!
12 years
Bravo Geagea for saying the truth and standing for justice. Rai should re-consider his stance, but geagea towers over Nasrallah who is in the gutter with the trash for sending killers to murder innocent civilians. The whole world and especially the region knows what a thug he is.
Geagea for president all the way. Aoun will go crazy and finish his life in the asylum.
12 years
wailoun li2oumaten ......
jibran khalil jibran
12 years
rouh ya hakim ma hadan 2adak
but you forgot the poor palestinians killed in gaza we must also defend them ma bissir 3aib
12 years
Lebanese to the bone
12 years
libano del cazzo
12 years
Perhaps its true that syria is black-mailing Rai with secret informatin that he does not want disclosed to the public due to his own shame. this seems to be the only logical reason he would defend the anti maronite regime in Syria that patriarch sfeir (and the vatican) so fervently opposed.
12 years
are you talking about the secret child.......
12 years
A man of calibre speaking words of caliber. Good to see, good to hear! It gives hope in time of hopelessness.
12 years
the syrian regime just issued a warrant to arrest the salafi leader Geagea along with his two lieutenants Mustapha Ghalayini and Allouchi
12 years
Funny :)
12 years
How much Geagea got paid for his speech?
12 years
Lebanon, and especially the Christians, cannot afford this nut's miscalculations. He has always had the wrong ideas, the wrong alliances and the wrong predictions. Simply put, he is always wrong. He and the jerks with zero-intellect who stumble with him with the smile of a retard are free to commit suicide alone. Nobody will feel sorry for those who have not and will never learn.
12 years
absolutley correct..NOT. fact: if it wasn't for the LF you would all be wearing sandles and selling corn by the side of the street. This man is one of the few who has truly sacrificed himself for the betterment of his country. He could have left but chose to stay. Therefore I think if he has the conviction to challenge the status quoue then God Bless him he has my support..
12 years
yeah, and your general and hizbushaitan are saints :)
12 years
Don't you see, he resembles Bashar in his thinking. Whatever it takes to rule. This is why he stayed in Lebanon.
12 years
explain what you have against the Muslim Brotherhood?
12 years
where's the proof that they are intolerant? the only fanatics, intolerant fundamentalists we have in Lebanon who always invoke wilayet elfaqih are hizbollaat...
12 years
hizabala are also fund. intolerant fanatics who assasiante their political opponents starting with amal movement in the 80's , hariri 2005 and still going.
12 years
May the Lord bless you and protect you from all harm.
Of all politicians, you've paid your dues by spending time in prison.
No other politician can make the same argument.
May our Lord Jesus Christ be with you today and always!!
12 years
you laugh a lot don't you silly... lol....lol...lol... buffoon!
12 years
Don't forget Geagea's main objective is to rule over a canton
So if Christian syrian gets displaced from Syria, and Sunni extremist takes control of Syria and Lebanon, he think that will increase his chances to create his Christian canton to harbor the Christians of the middle east and he can then proclaim himself their ruler/protector
12 years
What a rich imagination. You claim that Geagea wants to to rule Canton whilst he doesn't even speak cantonese nor mandarin for that matter. Seriously, what do you smoke?
12 years
FYI
A canton is a political division of a county or territory - example Swiss cantons.
Go educate yourself before ridiculing yourself anymore.
12 years
Are you serious benzona? I know he eats mandarin.
12 years
ma ahbal men Rudes gheir hayda el txmex ... IT hink you both were born with several bones missing ... like a funny bone and a back bone ... Benzona cracks a joke and u r on him like he just swore at Iran or Syria!!! come on ... grow up and get some bones (I heard Aoun is distributing them free for his puppy followers .. yalla la722o 7alkon)
12 years
what a muppet! lol - ah benzona you are idiot.
12 years
lol - what an idiot -benzona, go back to shool
12 years
To halaktouna
If i critisize Geagea, that doesn't mean i love Aoun. I leave that equation to simple minded lebanese. For me, both of them don't deserve to be followed. Both of them don't serve their country.
12 years
as well racist comments :)
12 years
mowaten.. a "racist" is the person who supports the butchering of Syrian muslims in homs, idlib, der3a just because they are not she3a, how about?
12 years
the sad truth is the muslim population in lebanon want lebanon as an islamic state, from the sunnis to shiaas and everyone in between. I have seen The late Rafic Hariri's speechs and Hussouny's both playing the same tune. It was created and always be a Christian state Geagea is the only one with the foresight to act on this. The other politicians just blow hot air and anyone else that helps keep them in power.
12 years
The only canton that exists today is that of hizbustan. This is a fact, what you are talking about is fantasy.
12 years
http://www.parismatch.com/Actu-Match/Monde/Actu/Le-Patriarche-Bechara-Pierre-Rai-Democratie-et-theocratie-sont-comme-la-neige-et-le-feu-382152/
still ill-informed our patriarch he should read the new 2012 Constitution of the Syrian Arab Republic,
Article 3
1. The President has to be part of the Muslim faith.
2. Islamic jurisprudence doctrine is a primary source of legislation.
12 years
Rahi, unfortunately has neither the political experience nor the wisdom to see through what is happening in syria and the arab world. He must understand that the repressive baathi regimes has used the minorties to its advantage and Rahi is falling in this trap. He should follow in the steps of Sfier who had the courage and the wisdom to seek what is good for Lebanon. We definitely miss his leadership in this time of crisis. Rahi is becoming sousou frangieh and the mad general little man. Need a change ASAP.
12 years
Geagea is speaking the truth, of all the politicians he has been making most sense.
12 years
thats exactly what we dont need - a facist speaking his truth, and brain constiapted muppets hailing him
12 years
absolutley agree, lets commit aoun immediatley to the asylum
12 years
and once again your comments prove you are a racist.
it is not the above comments that are bling, it is you sight that is blocked so much that you do not see beyond your nose.
12 years
go educate yourself before you say things you do not even understand or rather do not want to understand.
you are one of those who labelled me a racist when I said a fact that is nearly all criminal activities these days are done by shias :)
12 years
Congratulations, the lowest rated comments ever.
How's that project working out where you admitted to spreading pro-Iranian and pro-Syrian propaganda in your effort to make this website "more pro-M8"?
Seems like it's not working out too well.
12 years
Spreading butter on your buttocks, you retard. Even if I agree with anyone, I don't vote. And I found out FT the cheap bastard, never voted for me. So I have to agree with FT on his following remark.
12 years
Although I never spoke badly of batrak Sfeir, I disagreed with some of his comments and positions. If you dared speak out against the politics of batrak Sfeir, the LF would go crazy, proclaiming the batrak is untouchable and it was disrespectful. How times have changed for the hakim's followers.
12 years
yeah we saw how much FPM respect Sfeir :0 we all have good memory here unllike you apparently, or you are too young to know :)
12 years
1989 pro aoun supports vandalising bkirki and asulting the Patriach. I would hate to see you guys when you are not respectful. perhaps being the cause of 2000 christian deaths, leaving your familys and running away, i can go on.
12 years
you have no idead, we have always spoken our minds but have never attacked the patriach or bkirki, have you?
12 years
I used to hate Geagea...before he went to jail... did he say or do anything wrong since he got out?
12 years
He still talks. Leader who is a total failure should resign himself. But this is the best of the christian intellects.
12 years
jc, i think aoun by far is a total failure.
12 years
I think you're the biggest idiot here Flame!
12 years
I think FT, mowaten, jc and habal amal compete for the first idiotic spot...lol
12 years
it is funny how M8 guys always comment besides the point :)
have you noticed they never comment on the substance? are they blind or so stupid not to understand what are the points?
personally I welcome the comments of geagea as they show moderation and statesmanship in these troubled days, as well as common sense.
unfortunately, there will be commentators that will have nothing else to say but insults instead of really commenting on the substance.
wait maybe they know deep inside that what he is saying is true, thus they have nothing else to say? :)
12 years
more insults as usual :) that is your way of life: ONCE thug always a THUG :)
12 years
No they don't get paid, if you know what I mean.
12 years
I'm tired of you condescendant tone Flame, and your insults to all that don't agree with your 2 cents theories! Go get a life now!
12 years
can u stoop any lower ? have some class man , what are u 13 years old ?
12 years
The batrak is supporting the same people that expelled two of the main Christian leaders in Lebanon, imprisoned another and set up two puppet presidencies (Lahoud and Hrawi) that made a mockery of the highest Christian position in the country. Not to mention they killed more Christians than all the muslim militias in the Lebanese war combined...
I can see how much he cares about defending Christians.
12 years
@Mowaten and his group of disoriented blind fellows:
now that israel has tested its anti rocket shield successfully in gaza, hold on to your shoes :) because you will be running in all directions soon.:)
but no one will receive you anymore.....
12 years
Well with all do respect Mr. President I don't think your primary goal right now or never been the Christians' welfare...I beleive that Al-Rahi's regional vision is something that all we should reflect upon & must be taken into serious consideration.
12 years
yeh ok i've reflected, now go away
12 years
we will reflect on this after hizbushaitan is destroyed very soon by israel, and then we will see if these words are correct :)
12 years
Unfortunately that's where Aoun has claimed presidency already ... he represents the majority of Martians as well ... he might send Bassil there to be president
12 years
To halaktouna
If i critisize Geagea, that doesn't mean i love Aoun. I leave that equation to simple minded lebanese. For me, both of them don't deserve to be followed. Both of them don't serve their country.
12 years
This Hakim is the worst leader for Lebanese forces ever they had, when he had the chances failed and gave up their power for personal political gains, who is talking the war criminal who came out of jail recently. Again what I know he is not the head of the Maronite church, I guess he need to leave alone the church.
12 years
flamethrower you are full of hot air, please explain what that comment means,you obviously are a couch commentator never lived in the war or understand what really happened do you?
12 years
GOd bless you geagea! allah yehmik! you're a true leader, exactly the opposite of what aoun is! a man that took our votes in 2005, went against his "fully-supported" 1559, and is currently part of a camp that fully supports the syrian regime and the most extreme party in lebanon- hezbollah! i was a previous supporter of aoun and his politics, but now realize what a lunatic he is, a 78 year old man who no longer knows what he's saying!
we will fight for our rights! Lebanese Forces fully represent us and the Christians in the region!
12 years
M8rs like blower, mowaten, Habal amal etc.....don't have an argument..just insults and unfounded accusations....very cheap standards..no wonder they love little general Aoun and big mouth Hassouna lol
12 years
Lebanon is sill a democracy so here it is again:
Allah yihmeek ya Hakeem...a true leader of Lebanon and our next president inshallah.
12 years
I miss Patriarch Sfeir.
12 years
I miss Patriarch Sfeir.
12 years
So now Lord Samir Moukhashkhash comes to us with another one of his out-of-this-world revelations, and the usual crowd kneels and praises the lord. Also, something almost identical happened with Moukhashkhash Beik Jumblat. Upon further investigation, it was determined that the cause is the ink with which Qatari money is printed. Investigators say that these effects are devastating to those directly affected and to those affected by the affected, and that the only cure is to put all those affected to sleep.
12 years
Allouch very ironic how u said insha'allah because i can assure from all of Allah's scriptures the torah the bible and the miracle Quraan that Allah does not will a person like geagea to be in power or any politician u know, and for those attacking salafism it is not a crime, they have every single justification in their quraan, so give us proof if ye are truthfull
12 years
rastafarian, You can assure me but it doesn't mean that you are right...I am not here to give religious lessons and I am not sure I understand you asking for proof...proof of what? in a democracy you have your opinion and I have mine; I will respect yours and I hope in return you respect mine...Hakeem is our next president inshallah.
12 years
hizbustan also assasinates its opponents, in the 80's and since 2005 onward. I am no fan of gaegae but just for headsup.
12 years
I think el hakim needs a doctor very soon:p
over 11 years
Id ought to consult with you here. Which isn't some thing I in most cases do! I enjoy reading a post that could determine people to think. Also, thank you permitting me to comment!
Allah yihmeek ya Hakeem...a true leader of Lebanon and our next president inshallah.