Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Thursday, July 17, 2025
    961
    Instagram Facebook LinkedIn TikTok
    • Breaking News
    • Guides
    • Food & Drink
    • Listicles
    • Join the Team
    • Whatsapp
      • 961
      • 961 News
    Advertise with Us Get the App
    961
    Home»News»Lebanon News
    3 Mins Read

    Head of Lebanese General Labor Union Destroyed Career by Insulting Patriarch

    By M. HojeijJune 2, 2019Updated:May 28, 2022
    Facebook WhatsApp Copy Link

    Bechara Asmar, the former head of the General Labor Union was released Monday after 10 days in prison, charged for making offensive comments involving late former Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir.

     

    Asmar was seen in a leaked video earlier this month, degrading jokingly Cardinal Sfeir with five of his colleagues, unaware that he was being recorded and that his microphone was on.

    Asmar’s disrespectful ‘joke’ following the death of a national religious leader of the magnitude of Former Patriarch Sfeir could not pass as trivial. It shook both the political scene as well as the Maronite Communities, locally and internationally.

    Via MTV Lebanon

     

    Public condemnations were numerous, demanding his arrest and removal from his position. From the Maronite League and Diaspora Institute to the Future Movement and several politicians and lawmakers, the reaction was unanimous. Lawsuits for slandering were filed, and Asmar was arrested. The five individuals who had shared his joke were also arrested, questioned and then released.

    However, upon the request of Patriarch El-Rahi, the Maronite League and the Maronite Diaspora retracted their lawsuits this week, and charges were dropped, freeing Asmar from jail.

    Moreover, Asmar’s detention raised public debate over freedom of expression in Lebanon.

     

    Via kataeb.org

    The incident raised a lot more questions, in particular, if the slandering comments would have been deemed a crime if he was not videotaped. In fact, Asmar had told reporters that ‘if people should be accounted for their words, everyone should go to jail too.’

    However, we do get accounted ‘for our words’ in Lebanon when defamation, slandering, or dishonoring is involved. In fact, under the Lebanese Penal Code, articles 582-584, defamation is a criminal offense. Just early this year, a journalist of a prominent Lebanese newspaper, Hani H. Nsouli, has been charged under the same law for defaming a political figure.

     

    As for Bechara Asmar, his lawyer Bilal Al-Husseini told the reporters that the judge had listened to the testimonies of four of Asmar’s colleagues, all who claimed no intent of offense by Asmar; some saying that it was a joke, and others stating that it was a “slip of a tongue.”

    Via The Daily Star

    Lawyer Al-Husseini took it even further, claiming a conspiracy against his client, “The attack on Bechara Asmar is a political attack to cut him off from his role in the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers.” He added that the late patriarch “was insulted dozens of times in his life and forgave all … so stop crucifying Bechara Asmar.”

     

    As for the general public, opinions on the incident were divided between two opposed headlines, one for freedom of speech and ‘taking a joke’ and one against insulting the dead and “the men of God”.

    Some are even claiming that Asmar may have been detained for inciting sectarian strife. While rumors with scandals are usually many, Asmar did resign from his position and with the charges dropped, he was just released on bail of 500,000 L.L 

    Via Civil Society Knowledge Center

     

    Moving forward, the real questions now are: Who is going to be replacing Asmar at the head of the General Labor Union? Was that the best move for the union? And was this incident a plot to remove Asmar from his position as he claims?

    The answers, unfortunately, are not available now, but who knows what surprises Lebanon hides for us this summer.

    Everything You Should Know About Patriarch Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir

     

    Maronite Church
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email

    For You

    shark tank Lebanon

    Shark Tank Is Officially Coming To Lebanon – Here’s How You Can Get A Chance To Pitch Your Idea

    whish pay lebanon 961

    You Can Now Use Whish Pay At Shopify Stores

    lebanon cybergames 2025 hacking 961

    Lebanon Just Won A Global Hacking Competition

    visa whish money partnership

    Visa and Whish Money Just Partnered To Push Digital Payments in Lebanon and Abroad

    uae travel ban lebanon 961

    UAE Is Officially Removing The Travel Ban On Lebanon

    Joe Issa El-Khoury 961

    Who is Joe Issa El-Khoury, Lebanon’s New Minister of Industry

    shark tank Lebanon

    Shark Tank Is Officially Coming To Lebanon – Here’s How You Can Get A Chance To Pitch Your Idea

    lebanon jounieh cyprus by ferry 961

    You’ll Soon Be Able To Travel Between Lebanon & Cyprus By Ferry

    June 8, 2025

    20 Celebrities You Probably Didn’t Know Had Lebanese Roots

    April 22, 2019
    whish pay lebanon 961

    You Can Now Use Whish Pay At Shopify Stores

    June 13, 2025

    Lebanon’s Shawarma Is Going Viral in The Philippines

    April 21, 2019

    How Mia Khalifa Became One Of The Most Outspoken Advocates For Lebanon

    August 13, 2020
    Lebanese boutiques

    25 Boutiques In Lebanon To Find Your Dream Evening Dress This Wedding Season

    June 9, 2024

    20 Typical Lebanese Slang Expressions

    April 21, 2020
    caracalla one thousand and one nights

    Caracalla Just Added More Dates For “One Thousand and One Nights” & You Def Don’t Want To Miss It!

    July 5, 2025
    Low-Cost Lebanese Airline 961

    We Might Finally Be Getting A Low-Cost Lebanese Airline – Here’s What We Know

    June 18, 2025
    961 Logo
    Facebook WhatsApp TikTok Instagram

    Popular Topics

    • Guides
    • Eat & Drink
    • Listicles
    • Lebanon News
    • Diaspora
    • Explained

    961

    • About
    • WhatsApp Channel
    • News WhatsApp Channel
    • Corrections Policy
    • Ownership & Funding

    Services

    • Advertise
    • Careers
    • App Waitlist
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletter
    961™ | All Rights Reserved ©2025
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.