Middle East Centre for Arabic Studies
Encyclopedia
The Middle East Centre for Arabic Studies (MECAS) was an Arabic language
college in Chemlane (Shemlan), in the Mount Lebanon Governorate
of Lebanon
. It was opened by the British Government in 1947. Initially, the language center was housed in a small building, but later expanded to a much larger enclosure.
The college gained notoriety as a "spy school" because many of the students were believed to work for the American Central Intelligence Agency
or the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
, particularly as it was located in a Christian area.
While many of its graduates went on to work for the western secret services, many spies and double agents of the Soviets, including George Blake, also attended the MECAS.
Sir James Craig wrote Shemlan: A History of the Middle East Center for Arabic Studies, a book in which he gives an account of the school and a description of pre-Civil War
Shemlan. The Civil War made the situation increasingly difficult, and in 1976, Mecas was temporarily evacuated before closing altogether in 1978. Today it is the Help and Hope Institution, run by the Dar Al-Aytam Al-Islamiyah, which is home to 200 mentally handicapped
children.
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...
college in Chemlane (Shemlan), in the Mount Lebanon Governorate
Mount Lebanon Governorate
Mount Lebanon is one of the Governorates of Lebanon. Its capital is Baabda. The overwhelming majority of its population is Maronites, Greek Orthodox, and Melkite Greek Catholic Christians...
of Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
. It was opened by the British Government in 1947. Initially, the language center was housed in a small building, but later expanded to a much larger enclosure.
The college gained notoriety as a "spy school" because many of the students were believed to work for the American Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
or the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
, particularly as it was located in a Christian area.
While many of its graduates went on to work for the western secret services, many spies and double agents of the Soviets, including George Blake, also attended the MECAS.
Sir James Craig wrote Shemlan: A History of the Middle East Center for Arabic Studies, a book in which he gives an account of the school and a description of pre-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...
Shemlan. The Civil War made the situation increasingly difficult, and in 1976, Mecas was temporarily evacuated before closing altogether in 1978. Today it is the Help and Hope Institution, run by the Dar Al-Aytam Al-Islamiyah, which is home to 200 mentally handicapped
Mental retardation
Mental retardation is a generalized disorder appearing before adulthood, characterized by significantly impaired cognitive functioning and deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors...
children.