Ghassan Tueni facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ghassan Tueni
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| غسان تويني | |
in Une terre pour un homme
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| Born | 5 January 1926 Beirut, Lebanon
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| Died | 8 June 2012 (aged 86) Beirut, Lebanon
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| Resting place | Mar Mitr Cemetery |
| Nationality | Lebanese |
| Alma mater | American University of Beirut |
| Occupation | Journalist, politician, academic, statesman |
| Years active | late 1940s–2012 |
| Spouse(s) | Nadia Hamadeh (deceased) Shadia al Khazen |
| Children | 3, including Gebran Tueni |
| Parent(s) | Gebran Tueni |
Ghassan Tueni (Arabic: غسان تويني; 5 January 1926 – 8 June 2012) was a famous Lebanese journalist, politician, and diplomat. He was in charge of An Nahar, which was one of the most important newspapers in the Arab world. Many people called him "The Dean of Lebanese Journalism" because of his great influence.
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Who Was Ghassan Tueni?
Ghassan Tueni was born in Beirut, Lebanon, on 5 January 1926. His family was Greek Orthodox Christian and came from Syria. His father, Gebran Tueni, started the daily newspaper An Nahar. Ghassan grew up in Beit Mary.
Ghassan's Early Political Involvement
In the early 1940s, Ghassan Tueni joined the Syrian Social Nationalist Party. This party was founded by Antoun Saadeh. While studying at the American University of Beirut, Ghassan was a leader in student affairs for the party. He even became an assistant cultural dean.
He met Antoun Saadeh in 1947 and was very impressed by him. They wrote letters to each other while Ghassan was studying in the United States. Later that year, Ghassan left the party.
Why Ghassan Rejoined the Party
In 1949, the party leader, Antoun Saadeh, was quickly tried and executed by the Lebanese government. Many people thought this trial was very unfair. This event made Ghassan Tueni rejoin the party. He wrote a strong article in An Nahar praising Saadeh as a national hero. This article caused a big stir and led to Ghassan being sent to prison.
In 1952, Ghassan represented the party in a group called the Popular Socialist Front. This group helped to make the Lebanese president, Bechara El Khoury, resign.
Ghassan Tueni's Education
Ghassan Tueni went to the International College (IC). Then, he studied at the American University of Beirut (AUB). He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from AUB in 1945.
After that, he went to the United States to study at Harvard University. He received his master's degree in government there. He had to stop his studies at Harvard suddenly. This was because his father passed away, and Ghassan needed to return to Lebanon to take over the family newspaper.
Ghassan Tueni's Career Highlights
After his father's death, Ghassan, who was only 22, took over An Nahar. He became the editor-in-chief and publisher from 1947 to 1999, and again from 2003 until he died. He was even put in prison in the 1940s for speaking out against censorship. Ghassan worked hard to modernize An Nahar. He made it Lebanon's most important daily newspaper and a very trusted one in the Arab world.
Ghassan's Political Roles
Ghassan Tueni became a member of parliament in 1951 when he was 25. Until 1977, he held many important government jobs. These included deputy prime minister and minister for social affairs, labor, industry, information, energy, and education.
Representing Lebanon at the UN
From 1977 to 1982, Ghassan served as Lebanon's representative to the United Nations (UN). This was during the peak of the Lebanese Civil War. He gave a very famous and emotional speech to the UN Security Council on 17 March 1978. He pleaded, "Let my people live!" Soon after, the UNSC passed Resolution 425. This resolution asked Israel to remove its forces from Lebanon right away.
During the Lebanese Civil War, he did not support Bachir Gemayel. He even worked in Washington, D.C. to try and stop Gemayel from becoming president. Ghassan Tueni called the 1989 Taif Agreement "the peace of others."
Later Political Life
After his son, Gebran Tueni, was sadly killed in 2005, Ghassan Tueni ran for his son's seat in parliament and won. In 2008, he signed the Doha Agreement. This agreement helped stop some of the worst fighting in Lebanon since the civil war. Ghassan stayed in parliament until 2009. His granddaughter, Nayla Tueni, then won the same seat.
Ghassan Tueni's Family Life
Ghassan Tueni married Nadia Hamadeh in 1954. She passed away in 1983 after fighting cancer. Sadly, all three of his children passed away before him.
His son, Gebran Tueni, who was also a journalist and a member of parliament, was killed in 2005. At Gebran's funeral, Ghassan bravely said, "Let us bury hatred and revenge along with Gebran." His only daughter, Nayla, died from cancer at age 7. His youngest son, Makram, was killed in a car crash in Paris in 1987 when he was 21. Ghassan's granddaughter, Nayla, is now a journalist and a member of the Lebanese Parliament, just like her father and grandfather.
Ghassan Tueni's Books
Ghassan Tueni wrote many books. In 1985, he published Une Guerre Pour les Autres, which means A War of Others. In 2009, he published another book called Enterrer La Haine Et La Vengeance, meaning Let us bury hate and revenge. He dedicated this book to his late son, Gebran.
Awards and Honors
Grand Officier, National Order of the Cedar from Lebanon in 1984.
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Ghassan Tueni received an honorary degree from the American University of Beirut in June 2005. In December 2009, he was given the Lebanese Order of Merit for his achievements in politics. Also in 2009, he received the Life Time Achievement Award from the Arab Thought Foundation. In 2011, he was awarded another honorary degree from the American University of Science and Technology.
Ghassan Tueni's Passing
Ghassan Tueni passed away on 8 June 2012, at the age of 86. He had been ill for a long time and spent his last month at the American University Hospital in Beirut. He was survived by his second wife, Shadia al Khazen, and his four granddaughters.
His funeral was held in Beirut on 9 June 2012. The Order of the Cedar was placed on his coffin. He was buried at Mar Mitr Cemetery. Many important leaders from around the world sent their condolences to his family, including King Abdullah II of Jordan and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain.
Images for kids
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Ghassan Tueni (left) with director Philippe Aractingi
