Nayla Tueni
Encyclopedia
Nayla Tueni Maktabi (born 1982 August 31, Beirut
) is a Lebanese
journalist and politician
.
She won the Greek Orthodox seat for Achrafieh in the 2009 Lebanese Elections for the March 14
block. She and Nadim Gemayel are currently the youngest members of Lebanese Parliament and she is one of the few elected female politicians in the country.
Tueni is a fourth generation journalist
. An-Nahar was established by her great-grandfather, Gebran Tueni, in 1933. Her grandfather, Ghassan Tueni
, ran the newspaper for decades. She is heiress along with her siblings to the newspaper dynasty and currently a member of the Board and the Deputy General Manager of An-Nahar Newspaper. She is also a board trustee of the Mentor Arabia, a non-governmental regional organization that promotes drug prevention and raises awareness on various issues among Arab youth.
. Her family is a prominent Orthodox clan in Lebanon. She pursued her primary
education at Collège Louise Wegman and went to high school at Collège Notre-Dame de Nazareth in Achrafieh
. She inherited her love and passion for Journalism from her father Gebran Tueni
and her grandfather Ghassan Tueni
. In 2005 she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the Lebanese University
, before earning a Masters degree from the Jean Monet Faculty in Paris
. She began her journalistic experience well before graduating from university. In 2003 she was already working as a trainee for An-Nahar and then wrote in the Education and Youth section of the newspaper.
and Kataeb party. However, she is also an advocate for Secular reforms in the Lebanese sectarian system. In a reportage broadcasted by Al-Jazeera about the power struggle of Lebanon's Christian clans, Tueni stated in Arabic: "The current system means I only represent my sect. I would rather represent my country and not my sect and hope that one day Lebanese politics will not be based on sect".
Among the 48 points she has listed in her political platform are her opposition to the foreign occupation of Lebanon by Israel or Syria, the support of a free democratic Lebanon and political pluralism. She also wishes to see Lebanon remain aside from regional tensions and conflicts, which have turned it into a battlefield for the wars others fight against each other. Tueni also wants to see Lebanese prisoners released from Syrian jails. She supports the securing of borders to prevent arms smuggling, and equal rights for Lebanese women, from voting to participating in the Army.
to marry a Muslim. Tueni accused her political rival, the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement
(FPM) to have been at their origin. Tueni's allies & supporters then backed her claims and showed a video of the leader of the FPM discussing that specific topic with another political ally (Suleiman Franjieh).
To add more to the confusion, a Saudi visa that Tueini had applied for showed Islam in the space for religion, as Saudi authorities require visa applicants to state their religions. Again, Tueini accused her political rivals, mainly the FPM, to have produced and distributed copies of that document which she claimed had been a typo mistake. Tueni retaliated, threatening to sue and appeared on TV where she gave evidence that she was still a Lebanese Orthodox Christian.
Although she ended up marrying a Muslim after the elections, there is no tangible evidence of her conversion to Islam. Consequently, many of Tueni's voters felt deceived and humiliated to find out she was in fact a relationship with a non-Christian and that there was some truth to Michel Aoun's statement after her marriage. Considering she received strong support and sympathy from supporters slashing Aoun's claims and made no mention what so ever of relationship with Malek Maktabi
at the time.
block that she would join their block. However, she has yet to make this concession and so far LF do not have a representative in Achrafieh, their heartland. After the June election in August 2009 Nayla married the Lebanese television presenter of the LBC program Ahmar bel Khat AL Arid, Malek Maktabi
in a civil ceremony in Cyprus
(dubbed the civil marriage Capital for Lebanese) since, Lebanon does not recognize civil marriage yet for either Christian or Muslims within Lebanese territory. Considering Tueni is a Christian and Maktabi a Shiite Muslim
. Reactions to the pairing were mixed as interfaith marriage is still unpopular among many Lebanese noting sectarian tensions still apparent in Lebanese society. In April 2010 she gave birth to a baby boy Gebran Malek Maktabi.
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...
) is a Lebanese
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...
journalist and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
She won the Greek Orthodox seat for Achrafieh in the 2009 Lebanese Elections for the March 14
March 14 Alliance
The March 14 alliance , named after the date of the Cedar Revolution, is a coalition of political parties and independents in Lebanon that call for sovereignty over all Lebanese territories, led by MP Saad Hariri, younger son of Rafik Hariri, the assassinated former prime minister of Lebanon, as...
block. She and Nadim Gemayel are currently the youngest members of Lebanese Parliament and she is one of the few elected female politicians in the country.
Tueni is a fourth generation journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. An-Nahar was established by her great-grandfather, Gebran Tueni, in 1933. Her grandfather, Ghassan Tueni
Ghassan Tueni
Ghassan Tueni is a former Lebanese Ambassador to the United Nations and publisher of An-Nahar, the leading Lebanese newspaper.- Biography :...
, ran the newspaper for decades. She is heiress along with her siblings to the newspaper dynasty and currently a member of the Board and the Deputy General Manager of An-Nahar Newspaper. She is also a board trustee of the Mentor Arabia, a non-governmental regional organization that promotes drug prevention and raises awareness on various issues among Arab youth.
Early life
Nayla Tueni was born on August 31, 1982, in AchrafiehAchrafieh
Achrafieh, , is one of the oldest Christian districts of East Beirut, Lebanon.-Overview:It is located on a hill in the eastern part of Beirut alongside the shore. Achrafieh is both a residential and commercial district characterized by narrow winding streets and prestigious large apartment and...
. Her family is a prominent Orthodox clan in Lebanon. She pursued her primary
education at Collège Louise Wegman and went to high school at Collège Notre-Dame de Nazareth in Achrafieh
Achrafieh
Achrafieh, , is one of the oldest Christian districts of East Beirut, Lebanon.-Overview:It is located on a hill in the eastern part of Beirut alongside the shore. Achrafieh is both a residential and commercial district characterized by narrow winding streets and prestigious large apartment and...
. She inherited her love and passion for Journalism from her father Gebran Tueni
Gebran Tueni
Gebran Ghassan Tueni was a Lebanese politician and the former editor and publisher of the mass circulation An-Nahar daily newspaper in Beirut, Lebanon....
and her grandfather Ghassan Tueni
Ghassan Tueni
Ghassan Tueni is a former Lebanese Ambassador to the United Nations and publisher of An-Nahar, the leading Lebanese newspaper.- Biography :...
. In 2005 she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the Lebanese University
Lebanese University
The Lebanese University is the only public institution for higher learning in Lebanon. Founded in 1951, it has 17 faculties as of 2006 and serves various cultural, religious, and social groups of students and teachers....
, before earning a Masters degree from the Jean Monet Faculty in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. She began her journalistic experience well before graduating from university. In 2003 she was already working as a trainee for An-Nahar and then wrote in the Education and Youth section of the newspaper.
Political views and March 14 alliance
Nayla Tueni is a secular Christian Greek Orthodox. At the time of her political campaign, she stood for belief in Christian preservation, as well as her stance against the Hezbollah, brought her the support of conservative Christians of the Lebanese ForcesLebanese 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...
and Kataeb party. However, she is also an advocate for Secular reforms in the Lebanese sectarian system. In a reportage broadcasted by Al-Jazeera about the power struggle of Lebanon's Christian clans, Tueni stated in Arabic: "The current system means I only represent my sect. I would rather represent my country and not my sect and hope that one day Lebanese politics will not be based on sect".
Among the 48 points she has listed in her political platform are her opposition to the foreign occupation of Lebanon by Israel or Syria, the support of a free democratic Lebanon and political pluralism. She also wishes to see Lebanon remain aside from regional tensions and conflicts, which have turned it into a battlefield for the wars others fight against each other. Tueni also wants to see Lebanese prisoners released from Syrian jails. She supports the securing of borders to prevent arms smuggling, and equal rights for Lebanese women, from voting to participating in the Army.
2009 Pre-Election controversy
Prior to the Lebanese election, rumours spread claiming that Tueni had converted to IslamIslam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
to marry a Muslim. Tueni accused her political rival, the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement
Free Patriotic Movement
The Free Patriotic Movement , also known as the "Aounist Movement" , is a Lebanese political party, led by Michel Aoun and allied with Hezbollah, The movement was officially declared a political party on September 18, 2005Though most of the party's support comes from Lebanon's...
(FPM) to have been at their origin. Tueni's allies & supporters then backed her claims and showed a video of the leader of the FPM discussing that specific topic with another political ally (Suleiman Franjieh).
To add more to the confusion, a Saudi visa that Tueini had applied for showed Islam in the space for religion, as Saudi authorities require visa applicants to state their religions. Again, Tueini accused her political rivals, mainly the FPM, to have produced and distributed copies of that document which she claimed had been a typo mistake. Tueni retaliated, threatening to sue and appeared on TV where she gave evidence that she was still a Lebanese Orthodox Christian.
Although she ended up marrying a Muslim after the elections, there is no tangible evidence of her conversion to Islam. Consequently, many of Tueni's voters felt deceived and humiliated to find out she was in fact a relationship with a non-Christian and that there was some truth to Michel Aoun's statement after her marriage. Considering she received strong support and sympathy from supporters slashing Aoun's claims and made no mention what so ever of relationship with Malek Maktabi
Malek Maktabi
Malek Maktabi also known as Malik Maktaby is a famous television presenter.Malek Maktabi hosts and runs the talk show Ahmar Bil Khatt Al Aarid which runs on LBC...
at the time.
2009- Post Election
Prior to the election Nayla Tueni made a promise the Lebanese ForcesLebanese 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...
block that she would join their block. However, she has yet to make this concession and so far LF do not have a representative in Achrafieh, their heartland. After the June election in August 2009 Nayla married the Lebanese television presenter of the LBC program Ahmar bel Khat AL Arid, Malek Maktabi
Malek Maktabi
Malek Maktabi also known as Malik Maktaby is a famous television presenter.Malek Maktabi hosts and runs the talk show Ahmar Bil Khatt Al Aarid which runs on LBC...
in a civil ceremony in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
(dubbed the civil marriage Capital for Lebanese) since, Lebanon does not recognize civil marriage yet for either Christian or Muslims within Lebanese territory. Considering Tueni is a Christian and Maktabi a Shiite Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
. Reactions to the pairing were mixed as interfaith marriage is still unpopular among many Lebanese noting sectarian tensions still apparent in Lebanese society. In April 2010 she gave birth to a baby boy Gebran Malek Maktabi.