The Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai expressed profound sorrow following the tragic incident in Qornet el-Saouda on Saturday, which resulted in the loss of two young men from Bsharri, Haytham Tok and Malek Tok. During his Sunday homily delivered at the summer headquarters of the patriarchate in Dimane, Patriarch Al-Rai extended his condolences to the families of the two victims. He called on the army to “enforce security, which should benefit all parties.”
Furthermore, the Maronite Patriarch urged the residents of Bsharri to place their trust in the justice system to resolve the long-standing conflict in Qornet el-Saouda. This conflict revolves around disputes between Bsharri and Denniye concerning land ownership and the sharing of water in Qornet-el-Saouda, the border area between the two regions.
In terms of the current political situation, the Patriarch criticized those “who have held power for over thirty years, undermined the state, destroyed its institutions, plundered its resources, ruined its economy, and impoverished the people.” He emphasized that these individuals “seek even greater power, which is why they oppose the appointment of a head of state and the election of a president of the Republic.”
