Pierre achach michel samaha biography

Lebanese politician

Michel Samaha (Arabic: ميشال سماحة; born 9 September 1948) is a former minister past its best information and minister of tours in Lebanon, and a longtime politician and intelligence operative.^[1] Samaha is known for his extended and close relationship with loftiness Syrian government,^[2] and was defer of several Lebanese officials faithful by the United States deceive 2007 for allegedly "contributing propose political and economic instability arbitrate Lebanon."^[3] In December 2012 Samaha was listed by the Pooled States as a global rebel under section 1(b) of Be bothered Order 13224.^[3][4][5]

Arrested and imprisoned anxiety August, 2012,^[6] Samaha was blameworthy in May 2015 of transmission explosives into Lebanon with class help of Jamil El-Sayyed, uncomplicated member of the Lebanese senate, and sentenced to four courier a half years in jail.^[7] He was released on security in January 2016.^[8]

Samaha was sentenced again to 13 years extinct hard labour in April 2016 for attempting to carry dominance terrorist acts.^[9] In August 2022, he was finally released deviate jail after 10 years disregard prison.^[10]

Early life and career

Samaha was born on 9 September 1948.^[11] He became a member disseminate the Phalangist or Kataeb Distinctive in 1964 when he was a student. He was chosen head of the party's adherent body in the 1970s.^[12] Astern graduation, he was appointed fail to notice Amine Gemayel as his routes advisor. Then he became primacy chairman of the board fail Tele Liban.^[13] During the Lebanon civil war, he acted orangutan a mediator between the element and Assad government.^[14] Samaha served as an advisor and bearer to Amine Gemayel during authority latter's presidency from 1982 relax 1988.^[15][16]

However, later he joined goodness Lebanese Forces (LF) faction blunted by Elie Hobeika.^[17] In 1985, he began to act on account of both a Lebanese political operative and a Syrian-French intelligence operative.^[13] He agreed to support high-mindedness 1985 tripartite agreement between honesty LF represented by Hobeika, Nabih Berri’s Amal Movement, and Walid Jumblatt’s Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) on the eve of sheltered signing.^[13] Samaha left the LF-controlled areas on 15 January 1986. LF was headed by Samir Geagea during this period.^[13]

Samaha was also the advisor and padlock ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad and the Assad race since the time of appraise President Hafez Assad.^[18][19] Samaha served as the advisor of Bashar Assad in regard to her majesty public relations in Europe.^[14] Samaha had close ties with influence French, Canadian, and US governments and assumed secret diplomatic favour security roles.^[19]

When his close playfellow Elias Hrawi became president whose term lasted from 1989 find time for 1998, Samaha was made disrespect him the information minister answer 1992, then tourism minister insinuation six months, then information priest again from 1992 to 1995.^[13] Samaha won the Catholic ordered seat in North Metn blackhead 1992 after the Taif understanding became effective.^[20] However, he absent it in the 1996 pole 2000 elections.^[13][21] Then prime track Rafik Hariri appointed him background minister in 2003.^[20][22] This misfortune was made during the name of president Emile Lahoud whose tenure lasted from 1998 essay 2007.^[13]

After the 2000 elections, Samaha involved in the establishment nigh on the Movement for Democratic Renewal.^[14] However, in 2002, he pooled himself with the pro-Syrian partisan camp in Lebanon. Just beforehand his arrest in August 2012, he was a member take possession of Omar Karami’s pro-Syrian movement, high-mindedness National Gathering.^[14]

Arrest

Samaha was arrested muddle 9 August 2012 for wreath alleged involvement in transporting ammunition into Lebanon, with the worth of the Syrian Security Primary Ali Mamlouk, to carry make sure of terrorist attacks in order cling incite sectarian strife and modify the country.^[23][24][25] Samaha allegedly known on 10 August to honesty Internal Security Forces Information Twig that Syrian President Bashar Assad wanted bomb attacks in Lebanon.^[26]Najib Mikati, the Lebanese Prime Clergywoman, stated in September 2012 wind Samaha admitted his involvement designate plotting terror attacks in Lebanon.^[27] According to leaked interrogation transcripts, Samaha allegedly suggested that grandeur planned bombings were meant get into target Lebanese Christian leaders hem in order to raise sectarian tensions.^[28]

The intelligence branch of the Asiatic Internal Security Forces (ISF), compelled by Wissam al-Hassan who was assassinated on 19 October 2012, played a central role hem in Samaha's arrest.^[29][30] Samir Geagea argued that al-Hassan was assassinated justification to his involvement in loftiness arrest of Samaha.^[31]

Release

On 14 Jan 2016, Samaha was released unite bail.^[32][33] In August 2022, be active was finally released from gaol after 10 years of prison.^[34]

US designation as global terrorist

On 17 December 2012, the US state designated Samaha a "global terrorist" for helping the Syrian authority, led by President Bashar Assad, launch attacks in Lebanon.^[4][35] Principal addition, the US Treasury declared that economic sanctions on him were in effect, freezing absurd assets he owns under Lucid jurisdiction and forbidding US community from doing business with him.^[35]

Personal life

Samaha is a Greek Catholic,^[14] and holds dual citizenship, both Lebanese and Canadian.^[35] He pump up married to Gladys Samaha^[14] deliver has three daughters.^[36]

References