The archive · Political memory
Assassinated leaders
A chronological record of Christian political and intellectual figures of Lebanon who were killed for what they said, what they wrote, or what they represented. The list is intentionally open — corrections and additions are welcome.
13 June 1978
Toni Franjieh· Member of Parliament, son of President Suleiman Franjieh
Ehden, North Lebanon · Armed raid on his summer residence
Toni Franjieh, son of former President Suleiman Franjieh and a member of Parliament, was killed in an armed raid on his summer residence in Ehden together with his wife Vera, their daughter Jihane, and dozens of household members and guards.
Sources: Contemporary reports, L'Orient-Le Jour
14 September 1982
Bachir Gemayel· President-elect of the Republic
Ashrafieh, Beirut · Bomb attack at the Kataeb headquarters
Bachir Gemayel was killed nine days before he was to take office as President of the Republic. The bomb, planted in the building above the meeting room, killed him and twenty-six others.
Sources: L'Orient-Le Jour archives, September 1982; Randal, Going All The Way (1983)
22 November 1989
René Moawad· President of the Republic
West Beirut · Car bomb during a convoy on Independence Day
René Moawad was assassinated seventeen days after being elected President of the Republic under the Taif Agreement. His convoy was struck by a 250 kg car bomb.
Sources: Contemporary press accounts; UN Security Council record S/PV.2894
21 October 1990
Dany Chamoun· Leader of the National Liberal Party
Baabda · Shot in his home with his wife and two young sons
Dany Chamoun was killed together with his wife Ingrid and their sons Tarek (7) and Julian (5) in the early hours after Syrian forces entered the presidential palace area.
Sources: Lebanese judicial file 1990/2334; Amnesty International report, 1991
2 June 2005
Samir Kassir· Journalist, historian, opposition figure
Ashrafieh, Beirut · Car bomb outside his home
Samir Kassir, a Greek Orthodox columnist for An-Nahar and outspoken critic of the Syrian presence, was killed by a bomb placed under his car.
Sources: UNIIIC preliminary report; An-Nahar archive
12 December 2005
Gebran Tueni· Editor of An-Nahar, member of Parliament
Mkalles, Beirut · Car bomb targeting his motorcade
Gebran Tueni, a Greek Orthodox parliamentarian and editor of An-Nahar, was killed on his return from Paris. Two staff members died with him.
Sources: Special Tribunal for Lebanon case file; An-Nahar archive
21 November 2006
Pierre Amine Gemayel· Minister of Industry, member of Parliament
Jdeideh, Metn · Gunmen ambushed his car
Pierre Amine Gemayel, son of former President Amine Gemayel and nephew of Bachir, was killed at 34 while driving through Jdeideh. His bodyguard was killed with him.
Sources: Lebanese ISF file; L'Orient-Le Jour, 22 November 2006
19 September 2007
Antoine Ghanem· Member of Parliament (Kataeb)
Sin el-Fil, Metn · Car bomb
Antoine Ghanem was killed with six others by a car bomb days before a parliamentary session at which he was expected to vote in the presidential election.
Sources: Lebanese ISF file; STL case documents