Fire of extremism devours decades-old library in Lebanon

Tripoli, January 5, 2014

A decades-old library owned by a Greek Orthodox priest in north Lebanon's majority Sunni city of Tripoli was torched late Friday, a day after a sectarian scuffle, a security source said.

"Unknown assailants torched the Saeh Library in Tripoli, destroying two thirds of some 80,000 books and manuscripts housed there," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Civil defence teams were deployed to put out the fire, "but there are fears that more books were damaged by the water used to try and put out the flames," he added.

The attack came a day after "a pamphlet was discovered inside one of the books at the library that was insulting to Islam and the prophet Mohammad," said the source.

"After that, the library owner, Father Ibrahim Surouj, met with Islamic leaders in Tripoli. It became clear the priest had nothing to do with the pamphlet, and a demonstration that had been planned in protest over the incident was called off," said the source.

"Then on Friday night, the library was torched," he added.

The library is located in the historic heart of Tripoli, Lebanon's second city and scene of frequent Syria-related violence pitting Sunnis against members of the minority Alawite community, to which Syria's President Bashar al-Assad belongs.

Sectarian violence involving the city's Christians has been extremely rare in recent years.

But Friday's incident comes amid a backdrop of growing religious radicalism in Lebanon related to the war in neighbouring Syria.

Middle East Online

1/8/2014

See also
Islam is actively forcing out Christianity in the UK Islam is actively forcing out Christianity in the UK Islam is actively forcing out Christianity in the UK Islam is actively forcing out Christianity in the UK
Analysis of results of the population census has shown that Islam may become the dominant religion in the country as early as in ten years. Over the last decade the number of British Muslims has doubled, and the name "Muhammad" has become the most popular name in London.
70,000 Christians killed for their faith in 2013 70,000 Christians killed for their faith in 2013 70,000 Christians killed for their faith in 2013 70,000 Christians killed for their faith in 2013
According to the statistics of the previous year, 100,000 Christians were killed in 2012. The situation in 2013 has not become less dramatic.
Syria: The end of chrisian civilization? Syria: The end of chrisian civilization?
Milena Faustova
Syria: The end of chrisian civilization? Syria: The end of chrisian civilization?
Milena Faustova
“It is the accepted belief that religious wars have become a thing of the past. But they have become a thing of the past only for those Western politicians who pay no attention to them. Religious wars are going on both in Africa and the Near East. Syria is only one of the bridgeheads for the swift de-Christianization of this region..."
Christians fall victim to the Syrian carnage Christians fall victim to the Syrian carnage Christians fall victim to the Syrian carnage Christians fall victim to the Syrian carnage
Most of the armed conflicts in the Middle East go down to religious confrontation. Syria is a glaring example of this.
Two Crucifixes destroyed in churches of Toscana Two Crucifixes destroyed in churches of Toscana Two Crucifixes destroyed in churches of Toscana Two Crucifixes destroyed in churches of Toscana
The Crucifix in the San Pier Forelli Church was highly venerated, as the Catholic Saint Leonardo da Porto Maurizio had used it in the 18th century. The Crucifix in the San Bartolomeo Church had already been damaged two weeks earlier.
In the capital of Crete, churches vandalized and icons burned In the capital of Crete, churches vandalized and icons burned In the capital of Crete, churches vandalized and icons burned In the capital of Crete, churches vandalized and icons burned
Cases of vandalism in churches of Heraklion and graffiti in Arabic left by criminals, which have become more frequent, are causing the authorities and the Archdiocese of Crete serious concern.

Subscribe
to our mailing list

* indicates required
×