Walid Eido
Encyclopedia
Walid Eido (Beirut
, 1942 - Beirut
, June 13, 2007) was a Lebanese
politician and member of the Current for the Future
Lebanese
political movement and an MP
in the Lebanese Parliament. He was also a member of the March 14 Coalition. He was killed on June 13, 2007 by a bomb near the Beirut waterfront, along with his son and two bodyguards and six others.
family in the Bachoura neighborhood of Beirut. He graduated from the Faculty of Law of the Lebanese University
in 1966 and became a magistrate a year later. In the late 1990s he was north Lebanon's public prosecutor, from which he was forced to resign in 2000 after being accused of accepting bribes. While on Rafik Hariri
's list, a then-unknown Walid Eido was elected as a representative of Beirut's second constituency in 2000 and 2005
. He was the head of the Defense Parliamentary Committee and a member of several others.
beach resort, Sporting Club.
and Lebanese President Émile Lahoud
.
On April 6, 2007 Eido asked Lebanon’s prime minister Fouad Siniora
to end the current standoff and replace the resigned Ministers. Eido said "it is time to end this resignation mockery by replacing the resigned ministers in accordance with the constitution so that the government can go back to work."
Eido was a supporter of the tribunal and a close friend of Rafik Hariri
. Following the 2006 Lebanon War, Eido reportedly said: “We will sell our blood to buy weapons and confront [Hezbollah]. We will never let them control the country."
Several citizens were also killed in the Blast, of which two of them are famous Lebanese football players.
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...
, 1942 - 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...
, June 13, 2007) was 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...
politician and member of the Current for the Future
Current for the Future
Future Movement is a Lebanese political movement, led by MP Saad Hariri, the younger son of the assassinated former Prime Minister of Lebanon, Rafik Hariri....
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...
political movement and an MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in the Lebanese Parliament. He was also a member of the March 14 Coalition. He was killed on June 13, 2007 by a bomb near the Beirut waterfront, along with his son and two bodyguards and six others.
Background
Eido was born to a Sunni MuslimSunni Islam
Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam. Sunni Muslims are referred to in Arabic as ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah wa āl-Ǧamāʿah or ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah for short; in English, they are known as Sunni Muslims, Sunnis or Sunnites....
family in the Bachoura neighborhood of Beirut. He graduated from the Faculty of Law of 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....
in 1966 and became a magistrate a year later. In the late 1990s he was north Lebanon's public prosecutor, from which he was forced to resign in 2000 after being accused of accepting bribes. While on Rafik Hariri
Rafik Hariri
Rafic Baha El Deen Al-Hariri , was a business tycoon and the Prime Minister of Lebanon from 1992 to 1998 and again from 2000 until his resignation, 20 October 2004.He headed five cabinets during his tenure...
's list, a then-unknown Walid Eido was elected as a representative of Beirut's second constituency in 2000 and 2005
Lebanese general election, 2005
The 2005 Lebanese General Elections were the first elections in thirty years without a Syrian military or intelligence presence in Lebanon. These elections were the first in Lebanese history to be won outright by a single electoral block and were also the first to be monitored by the United...
. He was the head of the Defense Parliamentary Committee and a member of several others.
Personal life
Eido was married with three sons named Khaled, Zaher and Mazen. Eido was an avid swimmer and the bomb exploded outside his favorite BeirutBeirut
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...
beach resort, Sporting Club.
Political career
After Syria's withdrawal of Lebanon, Eido became a critic of Syrian President Bashar al-AssadBashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad is the President of Syria and Regional Secretary of the Ba'ath Party. His father Hafez al-Assad ruled Syria for 29 years until his death in 2000. Al-Assad was elected in 2000, re-elected in 2007, unopposed each time.- Early Life :...
and Lebanese President Émile Lahoud
Émile Lahoud
General Émile Jamil Lahoud is a former President of Lebanon. Lahoud is a Maronite-Catholic, as is required for the Lebanese presidency. Under Lebanon's unwritten constitutional agreement, the National Pact, the presidency is earmarked for Maronite_Catholic, the parliament speaker's post for a Shia...
.
On April 6, 2007 Eido asked Lebanon’s prime minister Fouad Siniora
Fouad Siniora
Fuad Siniora is a Lebanese politician, a former Prime Minister of Lebanon, a position he held from 19 July 2005 to May 25, 2008 the date of the election of the new President of Lebanon; he was renominated to the post on 28 May 2008 and held the post as Acting President between those...
to end the current standoff and replace the resigned Ministers. Eido said "it is time to end this resignation mockery by replacing the resigned ministers in accordance with the constitution so that the government can go back to work."
Eido was a supporter of the tribunal and a close friend of Rafik Hariri
Rafik Hariri
Rafic Baha El Deen Al-Hariri , was a business tycoon and the Prime Minister of Lebanon from 1992 to 1998 and again from 2000 until his resignation, 20 October 2004.He headed five cabinets during his tenure...
. Following the 2006 Lebanon War, Eido reportedly said: “We will sell our blood to buy weapons and confront [Hezbollah]. We will never let them control the country."
Assassination
A parked Mitsubishi Pajero four wheel vehicle packed with 80 kg (177 lbs) of explosives blew up as Eido's car was driving away from a Beirut beach club. His son Khaled was killed too.Several citizens were also killed in the Blast, of which two of them are famous Lebanese football players.