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Patriarch Rai defends Assad: ‘Not worse than Syria rebels’

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bkirki meeting 0602 patriarch rai 2 defLebanese Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara al-Rai defended Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during his meetings in Pais by stressing that he is not worse than the rebels engaged in the fight against the Syrian government, Hezbollah’s Al Manar reported on Wednesday.

Al-Hayat, reported on Wednesday that French President Froncois Hollande received Rai in Paris, adding that the two men discussed the Lebanese-French ties and the situation in the region .

Al-Hayat, quoted well-informed source as saying that “Patriarch Rai voiced concern over the situation of the Christians in Syria and the increasing number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.”

“Rai told Hollande that a huge number of Orthodox Syrians had left their country, and they represent 60 percent of Christians in Syria,” the source noted.

Rai has been praising the Syrian regime ever since he was elected to replace Cardinal Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir. His siding with the Syrian regime has caused divisions within the Christian community, according to analysts.

Rai is currently meeting with former Lebanese PM Saad Hariri in Paris according to NNA to discuss the electoral law proposals for the 2013 elections..

Cardinal Rai left Beirut on Monday and headed for Paris, where he met with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius upon his arrival.

Cardinal Rai discussed with Fabius the latest developments in Lebanon along with some regional affairs highlighting the key role that Lebanon played in maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East, LBC reported

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56 responses to “Patriarch Rai defends Assad: ‘Not worse than Syria rebels’”

  1. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    Flap-twaddle …

  2. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    Flap-twaddle …

  3. Prophettttt Avatar
    Prophettttt

    Can’t be more true. Al- Qaeida and Al -Nassra are worse than any dictatorship. I think they beat the Zionists and the Nazis with their hatred and racism. Their ignorance makes them more dangerous than any other ideology.

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      THAT Being the truth does not make Assad a saint. Rai should not be made to sound (by newsies) like he’s defending Assad when he says he’s no worse .. it does not mean he’s better … and I don’t see where Rai defends what Assad did to his own people. But I DO think he involves himself too much in politics … which any of the ‘religiously bent’ should not.

      1. Prophettttt Avatar
        Prophettttt

        No one is taking about Sainthood here. The question is;would Syrian people be better off with Alqaeida and Alnassra in charge,compared to Assad rule? As Lebanese, would we be better off having Alqeida as next door neighbor?
        True ,Rai did not defend Assad, nor did He condone the behavior of his regime. One needs to realize that;Not being worse is definitely better.
        I do agree that religious leaders are too involved in politics when they should be concentrating on what they are supposed to be good at.

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          So, ‘the people’ who had no previous choice should have just gone along with ‘Assad Families’ for generations? Because Assad was a better choice of dirt-bag?
          Perhaps they did not ‘see’ a future with every other dirt-bag in the neighbourhood getting into it – people tend to see what they wish for as being something they can accomplish. And you have to admit that many in the ‘MED-ZONE’ have been trying for something better than they have had – a ‘say’ in who controls their every-day lives. Perhaps there is some jealousy of the Lebanese ‘system’, although we may often find that a curious thing to be jealous of … the reality is less than wonderful.
          And who, seeking self-control, would want any of the ‘Als’ in charge?
          In the beginning, Syrians said ‘We don’t want outside help.’ … even as they were being imprisoned and killed for ‘asking’ for more ‘say’ in their lives. The choice then became ‘accept a few hundred more deaths and be quiet like last time’ … or ‘defend ourselves and begin to make the change we want by using the same force.’
          So, yes, at that point the other ‘dirt-bags’ got into the act for their own desires – ostensibly ‘helping’ whichever ‘side’ they happen to be ‘on’ – and the Syrians who wanted change are now stuck with the secondary problems of looking at different dictators. And yes, of course, often with worse thinking than Assad’s simple ego. The ideologies are astounding to most of us who have had a modicum of open education, and experience in a 21st century world – EVEN in Lebanon … i.e. unbelievable.
          But didn’t we find it hard to believe what Assad was actually doing too? And his ‘police’ and his goons? Was he or was he not killing randomly people gathered in a street? Shooting fishing-boys from Lebanon? Torturing children?
          We should be hoping the FSA can actually gain control of the situation at some point – and achieve the democracy they wish to design – but now we dump on them for ‘allowing’ Al-dirt-bags into the country? In fear?? Of THOSE dirt-bags ????
          Oh …. LET us disassociate … THAT would be wonderful. I could pray for that one, even if I think no-one listens. Lebanon just got another million citizens. Should help with the taxes. Might even have enough money to get electricity one day. And build a fence too.

          1. Prophettttt Avatar
            Prophettttt

            Only if the opposition did not allow their revolution to be hijacked by dirt bags fanatics, and the Perto dollars of Wahabi Qatar, and the Saudi freedom fighters & dirt bags,and the new ottomans,and the rest of the so called “freedom lovers”,and the so called modern world.
            That was exactly what I warned everyone about two years ago,when all of you accused me of being a regime apologist.
            Too late already… People have to choose between bad and worse.About two month ago, I made my choice of bad.

          2. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Problem is Prophet … no-one reads us. 🙂 Have a glass … one cube? 😉

          3. Prophettttt Avatar
            Prophettttt

            No cubes….Why dilute it?lol
            BTW,I stopped reading my own.lol

          4. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Hehehe … I keep a file of the jokes that got me the most ‘down’ arrows. :-)))))

          5. Prophettttt Avatar
            Prophettttt

            Speaking of jokes,I got a good one for you;It is so true though.

          6. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            🙂 Yes … I had seen it. I thought I added something …. hmmmm ….

          7. Constantin7 Avatar
            Constantin7

            This is hilareous Prophettt….lollllll Never heard someone called : Zaaal…loll

          8. libnan1 Avatar
            libnan1

            Look at this picture … How can you dislike this guy …(( I’m gonna use this picture to scare my kids to go to bed…

  4. Prophettttt Avatar
    Prophettttt

    Can’t be more true. The Al- Qaeida and Al -Nassra are worse than any dictatorship. I think they beat the Zionists and the Nazis with their hatred and racism. Their ignorance makes them more dangerous than any other ideology.

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      THAT Being the truth does not make Assad a saint. Rai should not be made to sound (by newsies) like he’s defending Assad when he says he’s no worse .. it does not mean he’s better … and I don’t see where Rai defends what Assad did to his own people. But I DO think he involves himself too much in politics … which any of the ‘religiously bent’ should not.

      1. Prophettttt Avatar
        Prophettttt

        No one is taking about Sainthood here. The question is;would Syrian people be better off with Alqaeida and Alnassra in charge,compared to Assad rule?As Lebanese, would we be better off?
        True ,Rai did not defend Assad, nor did He condone the behavior of his regime. One needs to realize that;Not being worse is definitely better.
        I do agree that religious leaders are too involved in politics when they should be concentrating on what they are supposed to be good at.

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          So, ‘the people’ who had no previous choice should have just gone along with ‘Assad Families’ for generations? Because Assad was a better choice of dirt-bag?
          Perhaps they did not ‘see’ a future with every other dirt-bag in the neighbourhood getting into it – people tend to see what they wish for as being something they can accomplish. And you have to admit that many in the ‘MED-ZONE’ have been trying for something better than they have had – a ‘say’ in who controls their every-day lives. Perhaps there is some jealousy of the Lebanese ‘system’, although we may often find that a curious thing to be jealous of … the reality is less than wonderful.
          And who, seeking self-control, would want any of the ‘Als’ in charge?
          In the beginning, Syrians said ‘We don’t want outside help.’ … even as they were being imprisoned and killed for ‘asking’ for more ‘say’ in their lives. The choice then became ‘accept a few hundred more deaths and be quiet like last time’ … or ‘defend ourselves and begin to make the change we want by using the same force.’
          So, yes, at that point the other ‘dirt-bags’ got into the act for their own desires – ostensibly ‘helping’ whichever ‘side’ they happen to be ‘on’ – and the Syrians who wanted change are now stuck with the secondary problems of looking at different dictators. And yes, of course, often with worse thinking than Assad’s simple ego. The ideologies are astounding to most of us who have had a modicum of open education, and experience in a 21st century world – EVEN in Lebanon … i.e. unbelievable.
          But didn’t we find it hard to believe what Assad was actually doing too? And his ‘police’ and his goons? Was he or was he not killing randomly people gathered in a street? Shooting fishing-boys from Lebanon? Torturing children?
          We should be hoping the FSA can actually gain control of the situation at some point – and achieve the democracy they wish to design – but now we dump on them for ‘allowing’ Al-dirt-bags into the country? In fear?? Of THOSE dirt-bags ????
          Oh …. LET us disassociate … THAT would be wonderful. I could pray for that one, even if I think no-one listens. Lebanon just got another million citizens. Should help with the taxes. Might even have enough money to get electricity one day. And build a fence too.

          1. Prophettttt Avatar
            Prophettttt

            Only if the opposition did not allow their revolution to be hijacked by dirt bags fanatics, and the Perto dollars of Wahabi Qatar, and the Saudi freedom fighters & dirt bags,and the new ottomans,and the rest of the so called “freedom lovers”,and the so called modern world.
            That was exactly what I warned everyone about two years ago,when all of you accused me of being a regime apologist.
            Too late already… People have to choose between bad and worse.About two month ago, I made my choice of bad.

          2. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Problem is Prophet … no-one reads us. 🙂 Have a glass … one cube? 😉

          3. Prophettttt Avatar
            Prophettttt

            No cubes….Why dilute it?lol

          4. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Hehehe … I keep a file of the jokes that got me the most ‘down’ arrows. :-)))))

          5. Prophettttt Avatar
            Prophettttt

            Speaking of jokes,I got a good one for you;It is so true though.

          6. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            🙂 Yes … I had seen it. I thought I added something …. hmmmm ….

          7. Constantin7 Avatar
            Constantin7

            This is hilareous Prophettt….lollllll Never heard someone called : Zaaal…loll

          8. libnan1 Avatar
            libnan1

            Look at this picture … How can you dislike this guy …(( I’m gonna use this picture to scare my kids to go to bed…

  5. AntiFSA!! Avatar
    AntiFSA!!

    Oh no, Beshara al-Rai will now be called a Syrian lackey because he has spoken the truth. I look forward to Constantin’s response. I would dare say Constantin will now call Rai an undercover Muslim.

    1. Constantin7 Avatar
      Constantin7

      Ask and you shall receive: here’s my reaction.
      I understand Rai’s position, since under Assad the Christians, and all Syrians for that matter lived well with security and peace of mind, as long as you do not criticize (verbally I mean) the regime, otherwise you’re gone. We don’t know the outcome of the after-Assad era, and if we take Egypt and Lybia as examples, Christians may not feel as free under an Islamic regime as much as they felt with Assad.Rai wants to secure the Christian existence, heritage and security, and this is very understandable. Rai knows how Christians are treated under Assad but does not know how they will be treated with the others in power, or fears that they will not have the same freedom of faith under the opposition.
      But unfortunately, the wheels of change are in motion and they are going forward no matter what. Assad is not going to rule Syria for ever, he is under more and more pressure to cave in (internally – as fighting is happening now in Damascus, and internationally). Change is coming to Syria, no doubt, either the Christians embrace it and go with the flow, or they are going to face a bleek fate. Christians are a minority in Syria (all over Syria) and cannot and should not be against the majority, it would be a strategic mistake. Assad is here today and gone tomorrow, but Syria and its people with all its components, inshallah, will stay for ever. Same thing for the Shiaa in Syria, if they are going to be against the majority they are facing a bleek future, and for this HA’s military involvement in Syria, I see it as a big mistake.
      Already HA is feeling the pressure in Lebanon: I was very surprised from them to accept Tammam Salam as a PM, although he is a centrist he is very pro March 14 group, this means HA is feeling change is coming and starting to become more lenient on the local scene.
      If I was at place of Rai, I would know by now that Assad is going going and soon gone…. and start a sort of communication with the Syrian opposition and keep my options as open as possible…and I would refrain from such interviews where probably sneeky journalists are waiting for any controversial word in order to publicize and label him pro-regime or pro-Assad, while Rai’s only concern in Syria is the fate of the Christian population, and not Assad and his regime.

  6. AntiFSA!! Avatar
    AntiFSA!!

    Oh no, Beshara al-Rai will now be called a Syrian lackey because he has spoken the truth. I look forward to Constantin’s response. I would dare say Constantin will now call Rai an undercover Muslim.

    1. Constantin7 Avatar
      Constantin7

      Ask and you shall receive: here’s my reaction.
      I understand Rai’s position, since under Assad the Christians, and all Syrians for that matter lived well with security and peace of mind, as long as you do not criticize (verbally I mean) the regime, otherwise you’re gone. We don’t know the outcome of the after-Assad era, and if we take Egypt and Lybia as examples, Christians may not feel as free under an Islamic regime as much as they felt with Assad.Rai wants to secure the Christian existence, heritage and security, and this is very understandable. Rai knows how Christians are treated under Assad but does not know how they will be treated with the others in power, or fears that they will not have the same freedom of faith under the opposition.
      But unfortunately, the wheels of change are in motion and they are going forward no matter what. Assad is not going to rule Syria for ever, he is under more and more pressure to cave in (internally – as fighting is happening now in Damascus, and internationally). Change is coming to Syria, no doubt, either the Christians embrace it and go with the flow, or they are going to face a bleek fate. Christians are a minority in Syria (all over Syria) and cannot and should not be against the majority, it would be a strategic mistake. Assad is here today and gone tomorrow, but Syria and its people with all its components, inshallah, will stay for ever. Same thing for the Shiaa in Syria, if they are going to be against the majority they are facing a bleek future, and for this HA’s military involvement in Syria, I see it as a big mistake.
      Already HA is feeling the pressure in Lebanon: I was very surprised from them to accept Tammam Salam as a PM, although he is a centrist he is very pro March 14 group, this means HA is feeling change is coming and starting to become more lenient on the local scene.
      If I was at place of Rai, I would know by now that Assad is going going and soon gone…. and start a sort of communication with the Syrian opposition and keep my options as open as possible…and I would refrain from such interviews where probably sneeky journalists are waiting for any controversial word in order to publicize and label him pro-regime or pro-Assad, while Rai’s only concern in Syria is the fate of the Christian population, and not Assad and his regime.

  7. Btru2u Avatar
    Btru2u

    The Patriach has endorsed the Assad regime, and alligned himself with the shia who has have betrayed their own brothers in faith. WHAT A HOLY MAN….NOT!!!!

    1. Constantin7 Avatar
      Constantin7

      Don’t be so fast judging the Patriarch Brtu2u, read my posting above. I think I understand Rai’s concerns, but he definitely does not endorse Assad or his regime.

      1. 5thDrawer Avatar
        5thDrawer

        Only one note: If he’s going to delve into the politics, he should be more specific than using the word ‘rebel’.

      2. AntiFSA Avatar
        AntiFSA

        What are talking about Constantin, He was a staunch Assad supporter before this war begun.

    2. dateam Avatar
      dateam

      Bro the christians,shia are in the same boat their only trying to protect themselves…its certain elements that have made it sectarian…if the opposition want democracy and choose to fight for it then so be it but not the way its being done because it will never stop.

    3. master09 Avatar
      master09

      Where does he state that he supports one side or anther. I must of missed it.

      1. dateam Avatar
        dateam

        exactly….the media has been shaped to follow one direction….atrocities have im sure been committed by both sides but what amazes me me is groups like nusra seem to have a green light….lets not be in denial here…this war has been subcontracted out however it has gotten out of hand or should i say has been allowed to get out of hand…controlled chaos.

    4. libnan1 Avatar
      libnan1

      Hey ..u2u, you need to get your information straightened out. Rai NEVER endorsed the Assad regime and aligns his constituents with all Lebanese and religious groups that serve Lebanon not only Shia. BTW, Shia are Lebanese remember !!!!

    5. AntiFSA Avatar
      AntiFSA

      You can’t be serious Btru2u, read the article properly. The only thing he has done is spoken the truth and this does not make him a bad man. Don’t let your hate for Assad blind you. Beshara al-Rai is a good man

  8. Btru2u Avatar
    Btru2u

    The Patriach has endorsed the Assad regime, and alligned himself with the shia who has have betrayed their own brothers in faith. WHAT A HOLY MAN….NOT!!!!

    1. Constantin7 Avatar
      Constantin7

      Don’t be so fast judging the Patriarch Brtu2u, read my posting above. I think I understand Rai’s concerns, but he definitely does not endorse Assad or his regime.

      1. 5thDrawer Avatar
        5thDrawer

        Only one note: If he’s going to delve into the politics, he should be more specific than using the word ‘rebel’.

      2. AntiFSA Avatar
        AntiFSA

        What are talking about Constantin, He was a staunch Assad supporter before this war begun.

    2. dateam Avatar
      dateam

      Bro the christians,shia are in the same boat their only trying to protect themselves…its certain elements that have made it sectarian…if the opposition want democracy and choose to fight for it then so be it but not the way its being done because it will never stop.

    3. master09 Avatar
      master09

      Where does he state that he supports one side or anther. I must of missed it.

      1. dateam Avatar
        dateam

        exactly….the media has been shaped to follow one direction….atrocities have im sure been committed by both sides but what amazes me me is groups like nusra seem to have a green light….lets not be in denial here…this war has been subcontracted out however it has gotten out of hand or should i say has been allowed to get out of hand…controlled chaos.

    4. libnan1 Avatar
      libnan1

      Hey ..u2u, you need to get your information straightened out. Rai NEVER endorsed the Assad regime and aligns his constituents with all Lebanese and religious groups that serve Lebanon not only Shia. BTW, Shia are Lebanese remember !!!!

    5. AntiFSA Avatar
      AntiFSA

      You can’t be serious Btru2u, read the article properly. The only thing he has done is spoken the truth and this does not make him a bad man. Don’t let your hate for Assad blind you. Beshara al-Rai is a good man

  9. dateam Avatar
    dateam

    Why are people afraid when something is told the way it is? why can we blogg whatever we want and people like rai in his position have to walk on egg shells? Leaders tell it how it is….they dont piss in our pockets and tell us what we want to hear….Just because we dont like one side or the other does not mean we can’t tell things the way they are.”Rai has been praising the Syrian regime ever since he was elected to replace Cardinal Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir. His siding with the Syrian regime has caused divisions within the Christian community, according to analysts”…who wrote this article? who are these analysts? I thought analysts were supposed to analyse and give reasonings not make assumptions and accusations….had rai come out and said assad is a an evil,christian hating,shiite,sunni,druze and jewish hater would we praise him then and say well done? Well are not parts of the opposition doing that now? If they kill, behead,maime,drag their own sunni clerics around then stick their heads on a minaret for everyone to see what are we supposed to say about them? Then what would they do to us? If their sympathisers in arsal kill our troops and drive over their bodies and walk away with $1000 bail are we supposed to accept it or are we wrong to call it as it is? Has anyone ever thought that maybe sfeir resignation was forced on him because maybe the heirachy wasnt happy with his politics and where he was taking the christians? If you were a christian leader in his position and saw what has been happening to the christians in the area would you not be worried? Iraq they have virtually all fled, Nigeria being constantly attacked now,Egypt well we are seeing it now…Syria it is happening now….Lebanon is the last place to go…..Whether we like assad or not is not the point anymore…..Their is a filthy breed of people in existance at the moment that want to annihalate anyone that is not like them and that includes christians,sunnis,shiites,alawites,druze and jews…..Move away from the main stream media and look and watch closely to whats happening then you can understand….

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      Right Dateam … one needs to analyse the analysts in many cases these days … and to read much more about ‘thought’, to formulate an opinion one can honestly live with. ‘Facts’ seem hardest to find in many cases – but looking for those is a good idea, when trying to keep it simple in your own brain.

    2. Prophettttt Avatar
      Prophettttt

      dateam,This site quotes analysts who have either secret names or no names at all,and observers who are never identified,or may never exist.Also most writers and authors have no names which leads me to believe that most of the time the author ,the analyst ,and the observer are all but one .lol

    3. AntiFSA Avatar
      AntiFSA

      Very well put Dateam, again.

  10. dateam Avatar
    dateam

    Why are people afraid when something is told the way it is? why can we blogg whatever we want and people like rai in his position have to walk on egg shells? Leaders tell it how it is….they dont piss in our pockets and tell us what we want to hear….Just because we dont like one side or the other does not mean we can’t tell things the way they are.”Rai has been praising the Syrian regime ever since he was elected to replace Cardinal Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir. His siding with the Syrian regime has caused divisions within the Christian community, according to analysts”…who wrote this article? who are these analysts? I thought analysts were supposed to analyse and give reasonings not make assumptions and accusations….had rai come out and said assad is a an evil,christian hating,shiite,sunni,druze and jewish hater would we praise him then and say well done? Well are not parts of the opposition doing that now? If they kill, behead,maime,drag their own sunni clerics around then stick their heads on a minaret for everyone to see what are we supposed to say about them? Then what would they do to us? If their sympathisers in arsal kill our troops and drive over their bodies and walk away with $1000 bail are we supposed to accept it or are we wrong to call it as it is? Has anyone ever thought that maybe sfeir resignation was forced on him because maybe the heirachy wasnt happy with his politics and where he was taking the christians? If you were a christian leader in his position and saw what has been happening to the christians in the area would you not be worried? Iraq they have virtually all fled, Nigeria being constantly attacked now,Egypt well we are seeing it now…Syria it is happening now….Lebanon is the last place to go…..Whether we like assad or not is not the point anymore…..Their is a filthy breed of people in existance at the moment that want to annihalate anyone that is not like them and that includes christians,sunnis,shiites,alawites,druze and jews…..Move away from the main stream media and look and watch closely to whats happening then you can understand….

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      Right Dateam … one needs to analyse the analysts in many cases these days … and to read much more about ‘thought’, to formulate an opinion one can honestly live with. ‘Facts’ seem hardest to find in many cases – but looking for those is a good idea, when trying to keep it simple in your own brain.

    2. Prophettttt Avatar
      Prophettttt

      dateam,This site quotes analysts who have either secret names or no names at all,and observers who who are never identified,or may never exist.Also most writers have no names which leads me to believe that the author ,the analyst ,and the observer are all but one.lol

    3. AntiFSA Avatar
      AntiFSA

      Very well put Dateam, again.

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