Druze Sheikh Akl condemns murder of Sunni cleric

Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Akl Naim Hassan condemned the murder of Sunni cleric Sheikh Ahmad Abdel Wahid on Sunday, National News Agency reported.

“ I call on everyone to practice self-restraint , calm down and be [wise],” NNA quoted Hassan as saying.
Hassan offered his condolences to Dar el Fatwa , called for punishing the perpetrators “no matter who they are,” and urged the Lebanese army (more…)

Lebanese writer wins international prize for “The Druze of Belgrade”

By Alison Flood
Rabee Jaber is the youngest recipient of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction

Lebanese author awarded International Prize for Arabic Fiction

A Lebanese author has won the International Prize for Arabic Fiction for his novel depicting life of a Christian egg seller after war, in exile and during imprisonment. The prize is a prestigious Arabic literary award, affiliated with the Booker Prize Foundation in London.

Rabee Jaber was awarded the prize for his novel titled The Druze of Belgrade. The author’s second historical novel is set directly after the 1860 civil war. It explores Lebanese identity when a Christian egg seller is forced to take the place of an exiled Druze fighter, accused of killing Christians. (more…)

Anti-regime Druze spiritual leader killed in Syria

A Syrian Druze leader opposed to President Bashar al-Assad was killed Saturday in the city of Soueida, the Syrian Waqf Ministry and Druze Unitarians’ Sect has announced.

Druze Sheikh al-Aql Ahmed Salman Al-Hajari’s death was blamed on “a car accident,” according to the statement released by the Syrian government’s Syrian News Agency (SANA), stating he “died in a tragic car accident as when the car he was travelling in collided with another car on the old highway of Mardek, Shahba.” (more…)

Syria negotiated with Al Qaeda affiliate to assassinate Lebanese Druze leader Jumblatt

The Al-Qaeda affiliated Abdallah Azzam Brigades on Saturday issued a statement that Syria “offered to release some of our Jihadist leaders imprisoned in the jails of the Syrian regime in exchange for assassinating Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt.” No further details were offered. (more…)

Jumblatt slams China, Russia for supporting Assad

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt who has become one of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s staunchest critics slammed Russia and China’s support for Syrian regime .

“Russia and China have supported the regime against the interests of the Syrian people; the double standard of some countries is strange (more…)

Lebanon is a friend of “Bashar”, not “Syria”

It is official , Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour confirmed on Tuesday that Lebanon will boycott “Friends of Syria” international conference that will be held in Tunis this week, aimed at calling for a political change in Syria.

“In harmony with our decision to disassociate Lebanon from developments in Syria, (more…)

Lebanon to skip “Friends of Syria” conference in Tunisia

Prime Minister Najib Mikati, whose government has adopted a policy to dissociation from the 11-month-old unrest in Syria, has said that Lebanon cannot attend the planned “Friends of Syria” conference in Tunisia. (more…)

Wahhab slams Jumblatt for supporting Anti-Assad protesters

Former minister Wiam Wahhab slammed on Monday Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt for calling on the Druze commmunity to support the Syrian people against the regime of president Bashar al-Assad.

“Is Jumblatt threatening us with a battle between the Druze people similar to the Ain Dara Battle,” Wahhab , a staunch ally of Hezbollah and Syria (more…)

Attacks in Syria’s Homs resume as protests sweep Sweidaa

Armored forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad thrust deeper into the central city of Homs on Wednesday, firing rockets and mortar rounds to subdue opposition districts, activists said, a day after Russia said Assad wants peace, as protests sweep Sweidaa, home to Syria’s Druze. (more…)