· February, 2009

Stories about Lebanon from February, 2009

Lebanon: Christopher Hitchens’ Beirut Scuffle Sparks Debate

  27 February 2009

Former leftist turned conservative writer Christopher Hitchens ran into trouble in Beirut last week when he attempted to deface a poster/memorial of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP), a Hezbollah ally. Versions of the event claim a heavily intoxicated Hitchens shouted obscenities at the party, ultimately resulting in an altercation with several SSNP members nearby. These allegations have sparked a debate across continents, writes Antoun Issa.

Arab World: Mourning Tayeb Salih

  21 February 2009

The Arab literary world is mourning the death of Sudanese novelist Al Tayeb Salih. The 80-year-old writer, who died in London, was best known for his novel Season of Migration to the North, which was selected by the Damascus-based Arab Literary Academy as the most important Arab novel of the 20th century. Al Tayeb was buried in Om Durman, Sudan, in a state ceremony, attended by the Sudanese president Omar Al Bashir.

Lebanon: A Civil Marriage Valentine

  15 February 2009

Renewed calls for Lebanon to allow civil marriages were made in a Valentine ceremony at a Beirut bar over the weekend. Several inter-religious couples staged mock weddings at a bar in Beirut's trendy Gemmayze district to protest the country's stiff marriage laws. Antoun Issa has more in this post.

Plans for Angry Arab TV News Service Underway

  7 February 2009

From the Angry Arab News Service, Lebanese Dr Assad Abu Khalil writes: “I have received enthusiastic messages from readers around the world expressing their desire to volunteer for the upcoming Angry Arab TV News service. This is the beginning: we can first formulate a plan that I can post, and...

Lebanon: Extra Virgin Olive Oil

  2 February 2009

“…it still can't be considered ‘extra virgin’ until a professional taster deems it as such,” writes Jane Rubio about the steps it takes to produce ‘extra virgin olive oil,’ – a lesson she learned at one restaurant/bar in Gemayze – Beirut.

Lebanon: “Being Black in Lebanon means…”

  2 February 2009

“Being black in Lebanon means you’re a servant. It means that if you’re sitting on the bus, people will solicit you to come to their house and clean for the going rate of 7,000 L.L./hour,” writes Jane Rubio on what a black person may experience when in Lebanon.