Etienne Saqr
Encyclopedia
Etienne Saqr (last name also spelt Sakr or Sacre, Arabic: إتيان صقر), also known by his nom de guerre "Abu Arz" (translate: Father of Cedars), is a far-right, Lebanese nationalist and founder of the Guardians of the Cedars
militia and political party ( حراس الأرز, Horras Al-Arz in Arabic
). Saqr and his militia participated in the Lebanese War facing the Palestinians and the Syrians in the 1970s and 1980s, and remained militantly active until he was expelled from the country with the flight of the South Lebanon Army
, of which he was not a member, in May 2000.
He is the father of notable Lebanese performers Karol Sakr
and Pascale Sakr
in 1937, one of eleven children, of whom eight were boys and three were girls. He was educated in French schools in Tripoli
and Beirut
. He joined the Sûreté générale (General Security Directorate) in 1954 and was involved in fighting against pan-Arab forces in the Lebanon crisis of 1958
. He left the security services in 1969, went into business, and became politically active in Lebanese nationalist circles. He opposed the Cairo Agreement
of 1969. Worth noting is the pan-Lebanese conception of the party whose members were drawn not only from Christian circles but Muslim and Druze as well.
In the early 1970s, Saqr helped to organize the Lebanese Renewal Party, and in 1975 he formed the Guardians of the Cedars inspired by his 'nom de guerre' Abu Arz (father of the cedars). In the Lebanese Civil War
, which began in 1975, the Guardians of the Cedars fought under the slogans "No Palestinian will remain in Lebanon" and "Lebanon, at your service". The Guardians of the Cedars joined the Lebanese Front
, a coalition of mainly Christian parties intended to act as a counter force to the Lebanese National Movement
of Kamal Jumblatt
and others. While Saqr objected to the Syrian intervention in 1976, the Lebanese Front accepted it. Saqr withdrew from the Front and the Guardians retreated to the mountains but continued to fight on the LF side in key battles, including East Beirut (1978) and Zahlé
(1981).
Saqr was placed under house arrest in 1990 by his former allies, the Lebanese Forces
, after the latter accepted the Taif Agreement
. Eventually, Saqr was forced to leave Beirut for southern Lebanon and upon Israel's withdrawal from the south in 2000, Saqr fled to Israel. In an address to the Knesset
a few days later, Saqr argued against the withdrawal saying Israel had "made heroes out of Hezbollah." He has been sentenced to death in absentia by a Lebanese court on charges of collaborating with Israel, and remains in exile - not in Israel - until today.
Etienne Saqr has 3 children, one boy named Arz Sakr and two girls who are both famous Lebanese singers, Karol Sakr
and Pascale Sakr
.
Guardians of the Cedars
The Guardians of the Cedars – GoC , also designated Gardiens du Cedre or Gardiens des Cèdres in French, are a far-right ultranationalist Lebanese party and former militia in Lebanon...
militia and political party ( حراس الأرز, Horras Al-Arz in Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
). Saqr and his militia participated in the Lebanese War facing the Palestinians and the Syrians in the 1970s and 1980s, and remained militantly active until he was expelled from the country with the flight of the South Lebanon Army
South Lebanon Army
The South Lebanon Army , also "South Lebanese Army," was a Lebanese militia during the Lebanese Civil War. After 1979, the militia operated in southern Lebanon under the authority of Saad Haddad's Government of Free Lebanon...
, of which he was not a member, in May 2000.
He is the father of notable Lebanese performers Karol Sakr
Karol Sakr
Karol Etienne Sakr also known as Karol Sakr is a famous Lebanese female singer, who was most known for her English songs back in the 1990s. She is the daughter of the Lebanese exiled politician Etienne Sakr, a former member of the Lebanese Forces and leader of the far-right Guardians of the Cedars...
and Pascale Sakr
Pascale Sakr
Pascale Etienne Sakr is a female Lebanese singer. She was born in Zahlé, Lebanon to Maronite parents. She performs a leading character in many musicals....
Biography
Saqr was born in Ain EbelAin Ebel
Ain Ebel is a village located in the Caza of Bint Jbeil in the Nabatiye Governorate in Lebanon.-Etymology:Historians as Anis Freiha and Fr Youakim Moubarak believe that the name of Ain-Ebel derives from two words,"Ain" and "Ibl".The first means spring as many places in Lebanon are named,and the...
in 1937, one of eleven children, of whom eight were boys and three were girls. He was educated in French schools in Tripoli
Tripoli, Lebanon
Tripoli is the largest city in northern Lebanon and the second-largest city in Lebanon. Situated 85 km north of the capital Beirut, Tripoli is the capital of the North Governorate and the Tripoli District. Geographically located on the east of the Mediterranean, the city's history dates back...
and Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
. He joined the Sûreté générale (General Security Directorate) in 1954 and was involved in fighting against pan-Arab forces in the Lebanon crisis of 1958
Lebanon crisis of 1958
The 1958 Lebanon crisis was a Lebanese political crisis caused by political and religious tensions in the country. It included a U.S. military intervention.-Background:...
. He left the security services in 1969, went into business, and became politically active in Lebanese nationalist circles. He opposed the Cairo Agreement
Cairo agreement
The Cairo agreement or Cairo accord was an agreement reached on 2 November 1969 during talks between Yassir Arafat and the Lebanese army commander General Emile Bustani...
of 1969. Worth noting is the pan-Lebanese conception of the party whose members were drawn not only from Christian circles but Muslim and Druze as well.
In the early 1970s, Saqr helped to organize the Lebanese Renewal Party, and in 1975 he formed the Guardians of the Cedars inspired by his 'nom de guerre' Abu Arz (father of the cedars). In the Lebanese Civil War
Lebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
, which began in 1975, the Guardians of the Cedars fought under the slogans "No Palestinian will remain in Lebanon" and "Lebanon, at your service". The Guardians of the Cedars joined the Lebanese Front
Lebanese Front
The Lebanese Front or Front libanais in French, also known as the "Kufur Front", was a coalition of mainly Christian parties formed in 1976, during the Lebanese Civil War...
, a coalition of mainly Christian parties intended to act as a counter force to the Lebanese National Movement
Lebanese National Movement
The Lebanese National Movement or Mouvement National Libanais in French, was a front of parties and organizations active during the early years of the Lebanese Civil War...
of Kamal Jumblatt
Kamal Jumblatt
Kamal Jumblatt ; was an important Lebanese politician. He was the main leader of the anti-government forces in the Lebanese Civil War until his assassination in 1977. He is the father of the present Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt.-Family background and education:Kamal Jumblatt was born in...
and others. While Saqr objected to the Syrian intervention in 1976, the Lebanese Front accepted it. Saqr withdrew from the Front and the Guardians retreated to the mountains but continued to fight on the LF side in key battles, including East Beirut (1978) and Zahlé
Zahlé
Zahlé is the capital and largest city of Beqaa Governorate, Lebanon. With around 50,000 inhabitants, it is the fourth largest city in Lebanon, after Beirut, Tripoli and Jounieh...
(1981).
Saqr was placed under house arrest in 1990 by his former allies, the Lebanese Forces
Lebanese Forces
The Lebanese Forces is a Lebanese political party. Founded as a militia by Bachir Gemayel during the Lebanese Civil War, the movement fought as the main militia within the Christian-dominated Lebanese Front...
, after the latter accepted the Taif Agreement
Taif Agreement
The Taif Agreement was an agreement reached to provide "the basis for the ending of the civil war and the return to political normalcy in Lebanon." Negotiated in Taif, Saudi Arabia, it was designed to end the decades-long Lebanese civil war, politically accommodate the demographic...
. Eventually, Saqr was forced to leave Beirut for southern Lebanon and upon Israel's withdrawal from the south in 2000, Saqr fled to Israel. In an address to the Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
a few days later, Saqr argued against the withdrawal saying Israel had "made heroes out of Hezbollah." He has been sentenced to death in absentia by a Lebanese court on charges of collaborating with Israel, and remains in exile - not in Israel - until today.
Etienne Saqr has 3 children, one boy named Arz Sakr and two girls who are both famous Lebanese singers, Karol Sakr
Karol Sakr
Karol Etienne Sakr also known as Karol Sakr is a famous Lebanese female singer, who was most known for her English songs back in the 1990s. She is the daughter of the Lebanese exiled politician Etienne Sakr, a former member of the Lebanese Forces and leader of the far-right Guardians of the Cedars...
and Pascale Sakr
Pascale Sakr
Pascale Etienne Sakr is a female Lebanese singer. She was born in Zahlé, Lebanon to Maronite parents. She performs a leading character in many musicals....
.