Lebanon mourns iconic composer Ziad Rahbani as mother Fayrouz makes rare appearance
The Rahbani family was a cornerstone in Lebanon's golden era of music theater that today is steeped in idealism and nostalgia in a troubled country. Top Lebanese political officials and artists paid tribute after the death was announced. Rahbani, a leftist Greek Orthodox, often mocked Lebanon's sectarian divisions in his work. Hundreds of people holding roses and photos gathered by Khoury Hospital near Beirut's busy Hamra district, solemnly singing some of his most famous songs and applauding as a vehicle carrying his body left its garage. Reem Haidar, who grew up during the civil war, said Rahbani's songs and their messages were what she and others associated with at a time when there was no nation to belong to.
The vehicle made its way to a church in the mountainous town of Bikfaya before burial in the family cemetery. Fayrouz, 90, had spent many years away from the public eye. Wearing black sunglasses and a black veil, she greeted visitors who came to pay respects. She had not been seen publicly since photos surfaced of her meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited her residence in 2020 to award her France's highest medal of honor. In recent years, Rahbani also appeared less in the public eye, yet his influence never waned. Younger generations rediscovered his plays online and sampled his music in protest movements. He continued to compose and write, speaking often of his frustration with Lebanon's political stagnation and decaying public life. Rahbani is survived by his mother and his sister, Reema, and brother, Hali.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
4 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Lebanon sentences man to death in absentia for killing Irish UN peacekeeper
A Lebanese court sentenced a man to death in absentia for killing an Irish United Nations peacekeeper, a judicial official said Tuesday, after Hezbollah members were accused of involvement in the 2022 incident. Private Sean Rooney, 23, was killed and three others were wounded after a UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) convoy came under fire on December 14, 2022 in south Lebanon, long a stronghold of the Iran-backed militant group. The judicial official, requesting anonymity as they were not authorized to brief the media, said Lebanon's military court issued its ruling in the case at around midnight on Monday. The court 'imposed the death sentence... on the main defendant, Mohammad Ayyad', the official said, adding that the ruling was issued in absentia. A security source told AFP in December 2022 that Hezbollah had handed Ayyad over to the army that month. But he was released from custody in November 2023 'for health reasons' and had not appeared at any trial session since, the official said Tuesday. The military court also handed a combination of fines and lighter custodial sentences to four other people 'who handed themselves in to the court hours before the session' and acquitted a fifth, the official said. Skirmishes occur occasionally between UNIFIL patrols and Hezbollah supporters, but they rarely escalate and are generally quickly contained by Lebanese authorities. In June 2023 a judicial official told AFP that five Hezbollah members were accused of killing Rooney. A Hezbollah official had denied members of the group were involved. UNIFIL, which counts around 10,000 peacekeepers from nearly 50 countries, acts as a buffer between Lebanon and Israel and operates in the south near the border.
Arab News
4 hours ago
- Arab News
Lebanon sentences man to death in absentia over peacekeeper's killing
BEIRUT: A Lebanese court sentenced a man to death in absentia for killing an Irish United Nations peacekeeper, a judicial official said Tuesday, after Hezbollah members were accused of involvement in the 2022 incident. Private Sean Rooney, 23, was killed and three others were wounded after a UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) convoy came under fire on December 14, 2022 in south Lebanon, long a stronghold of the Iran-backed militant group. The judicial official, requesting anonymity as they were not authorized to brief the media, said Lebanon's military court issued its ruling in the case at around midnight on Monday. The court 'imposed the death sentence... on the main defendant, Mohammad Ayyad,' the official said, adding that the ruling was issued in absentia. A security source told AFP in December 2022 that Hezbollah had handed Ayyad over to the army that month. But he was released from custody in November 2023 'for health reasons' and had not appeared at any trial session since, the official said Tuesday. The military court also handed a combination of fines and lighter custodial sentences to four other people 'who handed themselves in to the court hours before the session' and acquitted a fifth, the official said. Skirmishes occur occasionally between UNIFIL patrols and Hezbollah supporters, but they rarely escalate and are generally quickly contained by Lebanese authorities. In June 2023 a judicial official told AFP that five Hezbollah members were accused of killing Rooney. A Hezbollah official had denied members of the group were involved. UNIFIL, which counts around 10,000 peacekeepers from nearly 50 countries, acts as a buffer between Lebanon and Israel and operates in the south near the border.
Asharq Al-Awsat
6 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Lebanon Mourns Iconic Composer Ziad Rahbani as Mother Fairouz Makes Rare Appearance
Hundreds of people in Lebanon paid tribute Monday to iconic composer, pianist and playwright Ziad Rahbani, who died over the weekend. His mother, Fairouz, a Lebanese icon and one of the Arab world's most esteemed singers, made a rare public appearance. Rahbani, also known as a political provocateur, died Saturday at age 69. The cause of death was not immediately known. His passing shocked much of the Arab world, which appreciated his satire, unapologetic political critique and avante-garde, jazz-inspired compositions that mirrored the chaos and contradictions of Lebanon throughout its civil war from 1975 until 1990. He also composed some of his mother's most famous songs. Lebanon's iconic singer Fairouz receives condolences during the funeral of her son, musician and composer Ziad Rahbani, at a church in Bikfaya town in the Metn District region of Mount Lebanon, Lebanon, on July 28, 2025. (AFP) The Rahbani family was a cornerstone in Lebanon's golden era of music theater that today is steeped in idealism and nostalgia in a troubled country. Top Lebanese political officials and artists paid tribute after the death was announced. Rahbani, a leftist Greek Orthodox, often mocked Lebanon's sectarian divisions in his work. Hundreds of people holding roses and photos gathered by Khoury Hospital near Beirut's busy Hamra district, solemnly singing some of his most famous songs and applauding as a vehicle carrying his body left its garage. Reem Haidar, who grew up during the civil war, said Rahbani's songs and their messages were what she and others associated with at a time when there was 'no nation to belong to.' The vehicle made its way to a church in the mountainous town of Bikfaya before burial in the family cemetery. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam (R) stands nearby the coffin of late Lebanese composer and musician Ziad Rahbani during his funeral at a church in Bikfaya town in the Metn District region of Mount Lebanon, Lebanon, 28 July 2025. (EPA) Fairouz, 90, had spent many years away from the public eye. Wearing black sunglasses and a black veil, she greeted visitors who came to pay respects. She had not been seen publicly since photos surfaced of her meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited her residence in 2020 to award her France's highest medal of honor. In recent years, Rahbani also appeared less in the public eye, yet his influence never waned. Younger generations rediscovered his plays online and sampled his music in protest movements. He continued to compose and write, speaking often of his frustration with Lebanon's political stagnation and decaying public life. Rahbani is survived by his mother and his sister Reema and brother Hali.
