Ziad Baroud
Encyclopedia
Ziad Baroud is a Lebanese
lawyer and prominent civil society
activist. On May 26, 2011 he resigned from office as Minister of Interior and Municipalities
in Saad Hariri's government. His resignation came after the developing conflict between Internal Security Forces
and the Ministry of Telecommunications in Lebanon (see Below). Baroud is married to Linda Karam and they have one son, Theo-Raphael, and two daughters, Elsa-Maria and Ayla-Maria.
. His father is a mathematics teacher and his mother, Antoinette, is an Arabic literature teacher. He completed his education at Collège Saint Joseph (a private school in Aintoura
(where he also taught for a year in 2001)) and attended the Faculty of Law at Saint Joseph University in Beirut
. He was admitted to the Bar in 1993. In July 2001, he became one of the founding members of the Democratic Renewal Movement
along with many other prominent members of Lebanese civil society. He performed his training in Minister of Justice Ibrahim Najjar's law firm then created his own law firm HBDT in 2003. In 2008, he became Minister of Interior and Municipalities
in Fouad Siniora's government
as part of President Michel Suleiman
's bloc following the signing of the Doha Agreement.
On May 26, 2011 Baroud announced that he would no longer continue his ministerial duties, due the repeated violations of the Internal security forces, who acted as rogue militants and as Baroud was quoted "had turned the law into a point of view". Baroud’s resignation came after the developing events that occurred on Thursday when his colleague Minister of Telecommunications in Lebanon Charbel Nahas
was banned from entering one of his ministry’s buildings by an Internal Security Forces
unit loyal to Saad Hariri. Baroud, who constitutionally was the highest command in Lebanon's security, ordered the ISF personnel to leave the building, but as he was accustomed to, his orders were ignored by the head of the ISF Ashraf Rifi
.
His resignation speech included the following statement: “Since I no longer want to be a false witness or a caretaker minister with the duty to sign the ministry’s mail, which something an acting minister can do and since I don’t want to violate the constitution despite any political stance, I decided to free myself from my duties ,”.
Since then, Baroud has been planning to run for a parliamentary seat in the Keserwan District
. He will be a candidate on President Suleiman's
electoral list, whomever the president is allied with.
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...
lawyer and prominent civil society
Civil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
activist. On May 26, 2011 he resigned from office as Minister of Interior and Municipalities
Ministry of Interior and Municipalities (Lebanon)
The Ministry of Interior and Municipalities in Lebanon is responsible for governorate, caza, municipalities, federation of municipalities and village matters, in addition to political parties and organizations....
in Saad Hariri's government. His resignation came after the developing conflict between Internal Security Forces
Internal Security Forces
The Internal Security Forces – ISF or Forces de Sécurité Intérieure in French, are the national police and security force of Lebanon. Modern police were established in Lebanon in 1861, with creation of the Gendarmerie...
and the Ministry of Telecommunications in Lebanon (see Below). Baroud is married to Linda Karam and they have one son, Theo-Raphael, and two daughters, Elsa-Maria and Ayla-Maria.
Early life and career
Baroud was born in jieta KeserwanKeserwan District
Keserwan is a district in the Mount Lebanon Governorate , Lebanon, to the northeast of the Lebanon's capital Beirut...
. His father is a mathematics teacher and his mother, Antoinette, is an Arabic literature teacher. He completed his education at Collège Saint Joseph (a private school in Aintoura
Aintoura
Antoura is a town in the Mount Lebanon Governorate.-History:The towns and the University was the scene of an "ethnic cleansing" event when the Ottoman Turkish authorities under direct instructions from Jamal Pasha followed a policy of "Turkification" that affected over 1300 Armenian and Kurdish...
(where he also taught for a year in 2001)) and attended the Faculty of Law at Saint Joseph University in 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 was admitted to the Bar in 1993. In July 2001, he became one of the founding members of the Democratic Renewal Movement
Democratic Renewal (Lebanon)
The Democratic Renewal Movement is a reformist, secular political party in Lebanon.At the last legislative elections, in May and June 2005, the party was allied to the anti-Syrian March 14 Alliance, led by Future Movement of late Prime minister Rafic Hariri, that won these elections. was founded...
along with many other prominent members of Lebanese civil society. He performed his training in Minister of Justice Ibrahim Najjar's law firm then created his own law firm HBDT in 2003. In 2008, he became Minister of Interior and Municipalities
Ministry of Interior and Municipalities (Lebanon)
The Ministry of Interior and Municipalities in Lebanon is responsible for governorate, caza, municipalities, federation of municipalities and village matters, in addition to political parties and organizations....
in Fouad Siniora's government
Lebanese government of July 2008
This is the list of the Lebanese government that was formed by Mr Fouad Siniora on July 11, 2008...
as part of President Michel Suleiman
Michel Suleiman
Michel Suleiman or Sleiman is the President of Lebanon. Before assuming office as President, he held the position of commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces. After LAF commander Émile Lahoud took office as president in November of 1998, Suleiman succeeded him, taking his place in December...
's bloc following the signing of the Doha Agreement.
On May 26, 2011 Baroud announced that he would no longer continue his ministerial duties, due the repeated violations of the Internal security forces, who acted as rogue militants and as Baroud was quoted "had turned the law into a point of view". Baroud’s resignation came after the developing events that occurred on Thursday when his colleague Minister of Telecommunications in Lebanon Charbel Nahas
Charbel Nahas
Charbel Nahas Nahas is the current Labour minister in Najib Mikati's second government as of June 2011. He is one of Eleven Change and Reform ministers, which is headed by General Michel Aoun, the largest share that it has ever had in Government...
was banned from entering one of his ministry’s buildings by an Internal Security Forces
Internal Security Forces
The Internal Security Forces – ISF or Forces de Sécurité Intérieure in French, are the national police and security force of Lebanon. Modern police were established in Lebanon in 1861, with creation of the Gendarmerie...
unit loyal to Saad Hariri. Baroud, who constitutionally was the highest command in Lebanon's security, ordered the ISF personnel to leave the building, but as he was accustomed to, his orders were ignored by the head of the ISF Ashraf Rifi
Ashraf Rifi
General Ashraf Rifi is the general director of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces .Rifi attended Lebanese University, studying the sociology of crime...
.
His resignation speech included the following statement: “Since I no longer want to be a false witness or a caretaker minister with the duty to sign the ministry’s mail, which something an acting minister can do and since I don’t want to violate the constitution despite any political stance, I decided to free myself from my duties ,”.
Since then, Baroud has been planning to run for a parliamentary seat in the Keserwan District
Keserwan District
Keserwan is a district in the Mount Lebanon Governorate , Lebanon, to the northeast of the Lebanon's capital Beirut...
. He will be a candidate on President Suleiman's
Michel Suleiman
Michel Suleiman or Sleiman is the President of Lebanon. Before assuming office as President, he held the position of commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces. After LAF commander Émile Lahoud took office as president in November of 1998, Suleiman succeeded him, taking his place in December...
electoral list, whomever the president is allied with.
Memberships
- Beirut Bar Association since 1993.
- Board member of the Faculty of Law at Saint Joseph University.
- UNDP Legal Consultant on local governance.
- UNESCOUNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
consultant on NGOs regulations for the Arabgovnet network. - UNEP Legal Consultant.
- Secretary General of the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (2004–2005).
Awards
- Young Global Leader by the World Economic ForumWorld Economic ForumThe World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland....
in 2007. - Man of the Year by Capital Issues newspaper and Data & Investment Consult-Lebanon in 2008.
- U.N. Public Service Award 2010.
See also
- Ministry of Interior and MunicipalitiesMinistry of Interior and Municipalities (Lebanon)The Ministry of Interior and Municipalities in Lebanon is responsible for governorate, caza, municipalities, federation of municipalities and village matters, in addition to political parties and organizations....