Seklaoui: a civilized example of openness and co-living that reflects Tyre’s moderate and uniting figure

Tyre and the nearby villages celebrated the illumination of Prophet Mohammed Mawlid decoration and Christmas tree, under the patronage of the Regie and within the initiative of the municipality and Tyre traders union. The ceremony was attended by the Regie’s President and General Manager Mr. Nassif Seklaoui, Tyre District President Mr. Mohammed Jaffal, Tyre’s municipal chief Mr. Hassan Dbouk, his vice; Mr. Salah Sebraoui, Municipal members, the chief of Tyre traders union Mr. Theib Badaoui, and members of the union, the chief of Tyre municipalities union Mr. Abdel Mohsen Al Husseini, Metropolitan of Tyre and the subjoined of the Melkite Roman Catholic Church, the archbishop Mikhail Abras, Maronite Archbishop of Tyre and Marje’youn ChekrAllah Nabil El-Hajj, the Chief of Al-Wasat Association Cheikh Hussein Ismael, Commander of Tyre Brigade of ISF Colonel Abdo Khalil, the Chief of Tyre intelligence services Major Nasser Hammam, a delegation of the UNIFIL Italian contingent, a delegation of Amal Movement and Hezbollah, as well as the public crowd.

The ceremony was presented by Tyre’s municipal member Mrs. Randa Abo Saleh, and then the municipal chief took the stage and underlined the “importance of being unified by the joy and happiness in the historical city of Tyre that always offers a special example of life, loving, and co-living although the hard conditions that surround our beloved nation.” Dbouk then thanked Seklaoui “who constantly undertakes developmental initiatives in the city unifying its people under the divine love.”

Seklaoui later spoke: “Tyre represents Christians and Muslims, Quran and Bible, Mosque and Church, the Hara and Al-Hay, Imam Charafeddine and Archbishop Youssef Al-Khouri, Imam Sader and Archbishop ChekrAllah Haddad and Cheikh Moussa Zouheir. Tyre announced the love of Jesus and the mercy of Al-Mustapha. It taught us how to co-live and coexist, to love and recognize the other, as well as openness, moderation and forgiveness.”

“Departing from these qualities that Tyre beholds no wonder that the city would wear both Mawlid and Christmas decorations. No wonder that we would celebrate together our festivals. The unusual is not to be a united as a Lebanese family since what gathers us is the blessing of the only God, Christians as well as Muslims, unifying the decorations of both occasions, beautifying the city and gathering religions.”

To the crowd Seklaoui said: “it is our pleasure at the Regie to stay in touch with Tyre municipality and the traders union because faith is what characterizes us; faith of co-living, not only by words but also by acts. Once again we are gathered here in Tyre in order to offer a civilized model of openness and co-living.”

Seklaoui underlined that this is “a message of unity, love, and fraternity between the people, reflecting Tyre’s open, moderate and unifying figure.”

He passed President’s Berri congratulations describing him as “the man of development who owe much love and devotion to Tyre and whoever consecrates love between religions.”

The band of Kadmous School performed carols and anasheed for the occasion, and then the decoration and Christmas tree were illuminated.