Tuesday, October 05, 1999
name: ahmed
comment: thanks marcel we're with you

Tuesday, October 05, 1999
name: Hussein Mansouri
comment: I do not know if that going to marcel but any way i want to tell him that we love you marcel khalife! I don't care, what they're trying to do with you about ana youssef ya abi. you still in our hearts and we do love you,there are hundreds of arabs in finland and millions around the world who loves you and your songs specially ana youssef ya abi it has very beautiful words and music..... marcel: we all love you...............

Wednesday, October 06, 1999
name: Badri Abukhzam
country: Florida USA
comment: Dear Marcel
I was so unhappy to hear the rumors on the (LBCnews) end since I am one of your admirers and I wanted to show my support to you, that's why I am writing this message.

Wednesday, October 06, 1999
name: Hamza
comment: Hello Marcel,
I'm sending this message after I've read that you have been accessed for being insulting "Islam" by reciting bit of our holy "Quran" verse in a song. Although I haven't listened to your song, unfortunately, but I'm hundred percent sure that a great nationalist like you won't do that at all. It is the first time for me to know that you are a Mronit Christian, that should tell my ignorance of your background, but your name stuck in mind since the eighties when your songs and music expressed your support to the Palestinians and the lefties front during the Lebanon's civil war which we all know who was behind and support whom. I'm a Muslim and proud of being so, and I'll defend my country/ religion by all means, and because of that I should listen the logic. We the people who live in the 3rd World all(Muslims, Christians,..)( Arabs, Kurd's, Afghans, ......) have one common suffering of being oppressed in all sort of ways by the racists represented by the west capitalism who is strongly driven by their moral-less industry. Please accept my support to you, though it is only a message, I wish I could do much more. And I'm sure most of the real Muslims will support you as well. Please consider the other Muslims figures which I've read their support to you as well. I'm sure you will never think it is the Islam's theme what pushed those people and made them arise the case to the court. May be they trying to stop any attempt in the future to recite part of the Quran in a song. I'm not trying to defend them, but trying hardly to say that we all need each other to put hand in hand, our thoughts together on how to get over our problems and stop the suffering of our people. The whole 3rd world people need strong real nationalist heroes like you "Marcel" and what you facing now is part of your struggle.
Forgive my poor writing, it is only an attempt to express my strong support to you.

Friday, October 08, 1999
name: ziad rouhana
comment: marhaba ana bheb wahed sawtò maa al harket al motdamnò maa marcel, be khsous "ana yousef ya abi". botlob ano tenlaga hal mouhekamò yaoum abel boukra, leano aaib aali aam bi sir,wou khasatan maa marcel khalife choukrane wou bekmal ano yousal saouté.

Saturday, October 09, 1999
name: Samya Mohammed Aiysh
comment: Dear Marcel: We support you against the opression you are facing , we are with you forever.
Yours, S.M.A

Saturday, October 09, 1999
name: Nord'din Dahhan
comment: Pour notre cher ami, pour notre espoir depuis trés longtemps
Les salutations de solidarité contre les inhumains contre les ésprits de boue
No pasaran!
"lan yamorrou"
Au nom de Khadija Arib et Sabra, Ghassan, Wadië...Et de tous les sympatisants Marocains en Hollande. Au revoir.

Sunday, October 10, 1999
name: adnan kahloul
comment: It is uterly unacceptable that a person like Marcel is accused of a crime against islam, in his attempt at defending the dowtroden of the arab world, and propagate their misery and sad plight, while the accuseres, infact are the cause of what happend tp us as lebanese and as arabs. It is heigh time that these hipocrits shut up and relegate themselves to where they belong, namley in the trash heap of history, and lrt the true patriots of the land procceed in healing its wounds. It is time that we wacke up to the true cause of our pain and our status, and distinguish between our killers and our saviors. Marcel lived with us in the trenches starved with us suffered from thirst with us, and bore the insult and humiliation from our despots, with us, while the like of his accusers ate until they got digestion, and drank until they could not breath. They never felt our pain and our thirst. Thus we say to those so called defenders of Islam, that islam is shaking hie hands from them, islam is for the masses and with them and is shacking his hands from them. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I CAN HELP IN ANY WAY FORM OR SHAPE. THANK YOU MARCEL, AND THANKS TO ALL OF YOUR LIKE.

Monday, October 11, 1999
name: ohood Khalil
country: Abu Dhabi - UAE
comment: it's not fair.

Tuesday, October 12, 1999
name: Nadia Wardeh
country: Canada
comment: all- Arab intellectuals must united togother in order to support the talanted Marcel Khalife who bring to light the real meanning of freedom.. it is a shame and disgrace that will mark our foreheads if such STUPIED accusation play it's games.. I totally support Khalifa's position and let's all work togther to prevent such scandel..thanks and my support to Khalifah.

Tuesday, October 12, 1999
name: Atif Helwa
country: UAE
comment: We should all be ashamed, if Marcel Khalife is found guilty. It will not only be an insult to culture, it will also be worse than a scandal against morality, democracy & freedom of expression."

Tuesday, October 12, 1999
name: Abdel-Rahman Ayas
country: Lebanon
comment: We all rely on people like you, Marcel, to continue to give us faith in a better tomorrow for the long-oppressed Arab nation.
A Ayas
Journalist

Tuesday, October 12, 1999
name: chakar bassam
country: belgium

Tuesday, October 12, 1999
name: Aida Noubani
comment: Dear Mr. Khalife,
i was listining to your music and songs since i was 13 years old till now( 29 years ).....since the old songs till jadal...., i'm tilling this to know what macel khalife mean to me and im sure a lot of people have same feeling ...
and realy i can't believe how us (arab world) try to distroy every body or thing is great among us..
im writing just to tell you...be strong...
all good people with you.....
yours truly
aida

Wednesday, October 13, 1999
name: Firas Abu-Khalaf
country: Jordan
comment: they are blaming the one of the last standing man to problem.

Wednesday, October 13, 1999
name: Felix de Haas and Semra Ðolak
country: The Netherlands

Wednesday, October 13, 1999
name: richa julien
country: france
comment: no comment!

Wednesday, October 13, 1999
name: amin
country: palestine
comment: marcel go ahead we love you we support you we are looking for your support also

Wednesday, October 13, 1999
name: Esam DANA
country: France
comment: In our overwhelmming arab world, everything is possible, as ridiculos as can be.
I Wish that I could make something more to support Marcel Khalife

Wednesday, October 13, 1999
name: Samer Hijazi
country: Canada
comment: This is a false issue, Period.

Wednesday, October 13, 1999
name: iman Fayad
country: Australia

Wednesday, October 13, 1999
name: Taisir Marzook
comment: all of my support for you

Thursday, October 14, 1999
name: abbas
country: u.s.a
comment: I am not surprised that would happen in Lebanon and the Arab world . It is a shame that this part of the world is still going backword toward dark ages

Thursday, October 14, 1999
name: fayed and banna badarne
country: jerusalem
comment: we represent a great number of palestenian youth who love you and admire you. we appreciate your strugle for creativity and all you do in order to give us good art. we all with you against the fundamentalist wave that tries to hurt you. keep going."allah yqaweek"

Thursday, October 14, 1999
name: Drs. A.jaber
country: Holland
comment: istho ala dammkom ..aeeb ..ya khsara ala bald ilhadara wi ilfann wi ilfihim

Thursday, October 14, 1999
name: Nehme H. Younes
country: Saudi Arabia
comment: Nothing except we blame you Marcel for being patriot more than the looks-like-men of our authoroties... we are all Marcel Khalife...We are all Marcel Khalife the man who is paying on behalf of all of us.. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT MARCEL, YOU ARE MUCH MORE BIGGER THAN ALL OF US.....

Thursday, October 14, 1999
name: qassim haddad
country: bahrain

Thursday, October 14, 1999
name: Rami Qutub
country: Palestine
comment: We as educated people say we're all with marcel

Thursday, October 14, 1999
name: Fatmé Hassan
country: USA

Thursday, October 14, 1999
name: Bassem Hassan
country: USA

Thursday, October 14, 1999
name: ALI DAHER
country: CANADA
comment: I would like to support you Marcel. You are the best person I ever listen to. You are the teatcher. You give us hope, dream. We love your music. I don't know what they are thinking. There are a lot of bad music and songs, singers. STOP this irony, ignorance. WHERE IS THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

Thursday, October 14, 1999
name: abe
country: u.s.a

Thursday, October 14, 1999
name: Lama Charafeddine
country: Indiana,USA

Thursday, October 14, 1999
name: Khalil Elhakim
country: Indiana, USA

Friday, October 15, 1999
name: a group of young men and women living in Nazareth
country: Nazareth, occupied Palestine
comment: Dear Marcel, We are a group of young men and women living in Nazareth, Occupied Palestine, who grew up on your songs, and saw the world through the eyes you have given us. We cannot imagine our school years without your songs, which together with the words of Mahmoud Darwish, taught us the love of the homeland, and the fight for freedom and diginity. We stand behind you today, all as one, through this criminal attempt to persecute you in the name of law, in the place you love most: Lebanon. This is not the Lebanon that you know and love, and not the Lebanon weknow from your songs. We ask you to stand tall, as you always have. Don't let this passing storm bend this strong tree with deep roots and high green branches, the tree we all call....Marcel Khalife. Know that not only Nazareth, but the whole of Palestine is with you!
For the group,
Azmie Odeh
Nazareth

Friday, October 15, 1999
name: Moussa Charafeddine MD
country: Beirut Lebanon Tareek Eljadida Hamad Str
comment: The acuse of Marcel, reflects the deterioration of values upon the 2nd melinium. I beleive,it is a challange for all of us.

Friday, October 15, 1999
name: zOUHAIR a. jABAL
country: USA
comment: WE ALL M.K..........

Friday, October 15, 1999
name: pottier daniel
country: belgium

Friday, October 15, 1999
name: Osama Alshaykh
country: USA
comment: These are rediculous accusations. Marcel Khalifeh expressed my views as a Muslem and Arab. I cannot but congratulate him on his work and strongly support him.

Friday, October 15, 1999
name: Fadi Saba
country: Boston, Ma
comment: When I got this shocking news, honestly, my body started shacking, and my eyes became wet. Marcel, I cannot put the feelings I have toward you in words, but be sure that I'm praying for you. Marcel, You're one of the greatest man I have ever seen, you always give me strength to forget my tears, to remember my happy days and to feel a very unique feeling while I'm listening to your music, words and voice. I don't know how my days will become till I be sure that this thing is done. I'm still shocked believe it or not, It's gonna be tough time for me, and for all of us. I think this will give you the strength too to continue your work as a (Leader) to me and to those people who love you. I hope what we're doing here is helping, though, I wish I could help more. I trust you, I beleive in you, I love you and I'm praying for you.

Friday, October 15, 1999
name: Fathiyya Hussein
comment: I have grown with Marcel's songs. My national conscious. I support Marcel from my deep heart.

Friday, October 15, 1999
name: Halima ,Samya , Doha , Wafa , Hana Aiysh
country: UAE
comment: We support you against the false accusation , we are with you forever, keep on and don't let them let you down.

Friday, October 15, 1999
name: A.Aziz H.Ali
country: Bahrain
comment: our full support to Marcel Khalifa against the false accusation by lebanese judicial authorities

Friday, October 15, 1999
name: Zachariah Noureldin
country: Palestine
comment: yes to freedom of speech in Arabia!
Hey! There is no insult to Islam in the song! I just read the words! Some people wanna stop you Marcel, dont give up!!!!!

Friday, October 15, 1999
name: elie benezra
country: lebanon
comment: this accusation is a disgrace all the people of the arab world (and lebanon in particular), muslims and others thelike. it is another fine example of how individual and even artistic expression is considered to be lifethreatening to this dolls' play we call 'arabic politics', and therefore violated against. well, if tbat's the way we deal with things in lebanon nowadays, let's just arrest ziyad en fayrouz and all the other artists, too, while we're at it!

Friday, October 15, 1999
name: lara akkari
country: USA - iowa
comment: to understand the language of music, one should keep an open heart and an open mind... too bad that Marcel's beautiful message was taken in such a biased and narrow way!

Saturday, October 16, 1999
name: Arab American Cultural & Social Forum
country: U S A

Saturday, October 16, 1999
name: MAAN MELHEM ALHAJJ-YOUSSEF
country: USA

Saturday, October 16, 1999
name: ANWAR MELHEM ALHAJ-YOUSSEF
country: Austin,TX USA

Saturday, October 16, 1999
name: Latif Bolat
country: Turkey
comment: We are really sick of such medieval thinking against good people of our region. We in Turkey suffer from the same nonsense, supposedly Islamic imposition of such unacceptable ideas over our people, especially the jewl of our societies, the artists. Leave alone Khalife, instead of prosecuting him, provide support to promote the beautiful culture of our lands in the Middle and Near East.

Saturday, October 16, 1999
name: musa izhiman
country: palestine
comment: if this is the lebanese justice then i am a bannana

Saturday, October 16, 1999
name: Walid abou saifan
country: Lebanon
comment: I'd like to be concidered as one of the song makers!

Saturday, October 16, 1999
name: Robert Guillemette
country: ICELAND
comment: No comments necessary.

Saturday, October 16, 1999
name: Steve Mason
country: England
comment: Another example of state persecution of intelectuals and artists - Shame.

Saturday, October 16, 1999
name: khalife Bachar
country: paris
comment: i am yusif, ya marcel

Saturday, October 16, 1999
name: Kristin Smith
country: Kuwait
comment: I do not understand how the using the inspirational words of the Quran to relate to current human tribulations can be seen as irreverant to Islam. The same faulty logic seems to be at work here in Kuwait in the arrest of a political science professor, Dr. Ahmed Baghdadi. Dr. Baghdadi used the prophet Muhammed's early experiences in Mecca as a way to encourgage Kuwait University students to be persistent in their efforts until they succeed, and has now been imprisoned on the charge of blasphemy. I would think making the lessons of the Quran relevant to everyday life would be encouraged by religious men and women, but this does not seem to be the case.

Saturday, October 16, 1999
name: Zein Al-Jundi
country: USA

Saturday, October 16, 1999
name: Jonathan H. Shannon
country: USA
comment: I give my unconditional support to Marcel Khalife and the efforts to repeal the spurious charges raised aginst him. All artists and art lovers must band together to maintain freedom of expression a fundamental human right.

Saturday, October 16, 1999
name: Jon Friesen
country: USA

Saturday, October 16, 1999
name: Hassan Jaber
country: Ghana
comment: We back you up , all the way

Saturday, October 16, 1999
name: Ahmed Hani Ibrahim
country: U.A.E.
comment: It Is Just Silly game Played There. He Is Beter Keeping His Beleives More Than Lot Of Others. He Knows What Is The Meaninig Of Ethics.. Yes He Knows

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: Dr. Anne K. Rasmussen
country: USA
comment: I am in full support of the artistic works of Marcel Khalife. It is rediculous to think that any artistic or popular statement referencing Islam or the Qurêan could possibly be debasing, so strong is their authority and sound their foundation. To suggest that artistic works challenge people's beliefs in anything but a healthy way is somewhat nearsighted and paranoid. To supress an artist like this makes their work all the more visible and important so the accusers are prompting the wrong reaction from the public by condemning Mr. Khalife's work.
Anne K. Rasmussen
Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology
The College of William and Mary
(Scholar of Middle Eastern music and culture and Indonesian Islamic musical arts)

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: Dr. Ali Hassan
country: Lebanon
comment: The accusation is so false and I support Marcel Khalife, and I congratulate u on this web site that gives us the possibility to express our opinions.
Thank you
Dr. Ali Hassan.

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: ANTOINE HARB
country: LEBANON

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: ghayda hassan
country: canada
comment: It is shameful that political and religious interrests interfere and jeapordize the contribution of art to mature, creative and free thinking. It is even more shameful that the lebanese governement has forgotten that marcel kahlife, through his music and voice genius, has carried all the suffering, anger and hopes of the young and older lebanese generations that have lived trough war. He always stood and still stands by his country and people. It is the lebanese governement that is betraying its people and their values and not artists like marcel.

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: anwar khatib
country: usa
comment: greeting
in my opinion, we should gather in lebanon in protest against these allegations against our lovely artist Marcel khalefe,,,I am ready to express my opinion about this matter wherever,,whenever,,,even in the lebanese congress...we have to do something soon
thank you all
dr. khatib

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: fadi
country: Palestine
comment: When reason dies, fools devour art.

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: Sharoud Al-Jundi Matthis
country: United States of America
comment: Some of what is going on in the Middle East today scares me and reminds me of how we are moving backward instead of forward and that is the worse possible thing that can happen to a culture...

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: Zahi Damuni, Ph.D.
country: USA

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: Mariam Ehteshami
country: Iran
comment: For any nation, only the stifling of ideals is more ruinous than war. Marcel Khalife dedicated his artistic creativity to the cause of freedom and justice in South Lebanon. This is a call for an end to prosecution and attacks directed at a great Arab composer whose virtue has been to show the dark side of wrong and to illuminate hearts by instilling hope.

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: SALAMEH KHAMIS
country: HAIFA
comment: WE ARE "MARCEL KHALIFE"
NOTHING WiLL STOP YOU OR US

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: Nadine Jamous
country: England

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: rouba Hassan
country: France

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: Abdulaziz Al Buhairan
country: Saudi Arabia

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: Kay Campbell
country: USA
comment: We are with you Marcel.

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: David Chambers
country: USA
comment: Too bad Marcel Khalife's critics do not follow his example of tolerance -- have the Lebanese learned nothing in all these decades of war?

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: Karma Hamady
country: Lebanon
comment: marcel is wonderful, and i believe that we should oin hands against this accusation

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: Lara Haddad
country: Lebanon
comment: I support Marcel 100%

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: Kinda Hassan
country: Lebanon
comment: I justy can't beleive how stupid this aacuusation and this accusator is!!!!! well... I guess my sis was right when she said: Lebanese people need so much to become stupid!
Kinda Hassan, 15 yrs old, Beirut-Lebanon

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: Moufid Nassif
country: Austin, Texas USA
comment: The only thing the Lebanese people ever believed in or trusted, since the beginning of the civil war in 1975 till our day today, is Marcel Khalife. So, please do not kill our last dream. As long as Khalife's voice is rising, as long as Lebanon exists.

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: Nadine Ghammache
country: U.S.A.
comment: Pity the nation that has strangled its singing voices. The incessant murmur of terror over its people will hover, and death will creep into hearts one by one to kill its spirits.

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: Usama
country: USA
comment: John Donne said and Ernest Hemingway repeated : "any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee". Marcel is the conscience of the Arab World; the voice of those whose voices are unheard... During the Lebanese civil war, he transcended the ugly sectarianism (attaa'ifiyyi or imaraat attawaa'if) that plagues Lebanon, envisioning a brighter future where humans (of any 'kind') can live in dignity and freedom. The people who believe in changing Lebanon to a civil society, where "religion is for God and the country is for all its people" (addeen lillah wal watan liljamee3) are many, and their time will surely come. Lebanon cannot suvive the challenges of the modern times until it conquers the 'evil' within. Let us make our voices heard and each of us should do whatever they can to stand with Marcel and support him; the bell tolls for all of us!

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: Al S. Gardner
country: USA
comment: Maestro Khalife is one of the great artists of our time. More importantly he is sensitive caring human being, dedicated to elevating the human experience both aestheticlly and practically. Anyone lucky enought to spend time with him knows that they are in the presence of a very special person. Marcel Khalife should be celebrated not persecuted and prosecuted.

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: Mayor Ahmad Nassif & Georgette Nassif
country: Hjoula, Jbeil Lebanon

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: Ziad
country: USA

Sunday, October 17, 1999
name: Dawn Doering
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Milad Ali Ershaghi
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Ilham Badreddine Mahfouz
country: U.S.A
comment: I never knew that a fight could get started from freedom of an expression , or from freedom of art, and freedom of human art, we should be proud of our arab artist and give full support , music is an international language that we all comprehend and comunicate with , it is reviving our comsciouse and our spirits.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Fatina Abdul-Samad
country: Canada
comment: Hero like you is always subject of wrong accusation but I know & Iam sure that you will win this one & every one because all are with you...

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Kamal Nassif
country: USA
comment: Marcel and his music were the hope, the laughter, and life itself for us in the darkest moments!

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Jihad A. Nassif
country: U.S.A
comment: Let the martyrs of freedom pave the way to freedom.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Hana El Sahly
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: g ghantoos
country: usa
comment: let us wake up and not fall into the backward practices of countries around us.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Monica Tarazi
country: USA
comment: Marcel Khalife's songs are an inspiration to Arab's everywhere. The government of Lebanon cannot silence him, and trying to shames them more than it does him.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: charles G. Abdelnour
country: United States of America

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Nidal Bazzi
country: US
comment: It is a sad to hear about the the prosecution of Marcel, who with his songs and artistic hard work showed us light and gave us hope when darkness overwhelmed us during those long years of the wars.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Dr. Amal Al-Amleh
country: New Zealand

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Jareer Khouri
country: Canada

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Gheed Karam
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Better Lebanon
country: Canada
comment: We are a group that its main goal is to present a better way of life & to Lebanon our main concern is the Freedom of choice in all matter The Freedom of expretion & Most of all the democratical Freedom....How Could some one trun out to judge some one I know via many friends they tell when we all go to haven or maybe before the beauty of the Quraan is & will reach to be sang. As I remeber in my childhood in Tripoly which is perdomenly suni Muslim during the holiday the quraan was sang with group with very limited musical instrument like tableh & so on the goups go chanting in a beautiful way until the whole group become enchanted with thier own voices...How could some one condem such a an act when someone like Mastero Khalifeh is realy moving this chanting from a 4th or 5th century technic to a 21st century tehcnic I think we should congartulate Mr. Khalifeh the moved us to the map or world wide recognized musician .... otherwize some of us wants to stay way far behind.... if they don't & the pepole arround them get educated they will loos out they will be challenged on thier behavior...lets get out our complex issues is to put Mr. Khalifeh under trial more important than the democratical representation of the lebanese in the parlement in the day to day life lets stop the theft of Lebanon thi is not the place to name names. We just would like to see you put a head on the shoulder & joint us in condeming this accusation & prasing the artist for his strenth & tell him Pepole like you are the type of pepole that move Lebanon to a btter Lebanon

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Tim Bishopric
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Mohammad Chehab
country: USA
comment: Islam can take care of itself by positive enagagement rather than by indicting a singer for singing verses which reseble an ayah from the quraan. Could any one be punished for singing "Bismillah" or "Allahu Akbar" which come from the quraan too?

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Amy Bonham
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: B. Yasmena Samahy
country: USA
comment: Marcel Khalife is an innocent of charges. A Sheite cleric even spoke in his defence recently. Lebanon has an artist to be proud of, whose art is popular not just with Arabs but with non Arabs. He must be free!

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Wa'el Qahoush
country: USA
comment: Lebanon should not allow itself to be pressured by extremists, as we all know from history how this leads into the destruction of its people.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Subhi D. Ali, MD
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Mohammed Hasan
country: Palestine
comment: Marcel Khalifa, is my favorite singer in the middleast and around the world, and I don't believe he should be prosecuted just because his songs tells our story and suffering, someone has to remind the arab leaders who is not caring and giving any of their support.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Maha Yahya
country: Lebanon/US

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Emad Hashem
country: Canada
comment: It is amazing, while we are approaching the new millenium the Lebanese judicial authorities treat us with the middle ages mentality.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Muna Hamzeh-Muhaisen
country: Palestine
comment: Just as we are about to enter the 21st century and in an age when the Internet has changed the entire concept of censorship, it is shameful to see that freedom of expression in the Arab World is still being supressed.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Ghida
country: Lebanon
comment: Convicting Khalife is an annihilation of the remains of our declining culture, our conscience and our identity.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Raghida Kayyali
country: U.S.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Hamza El Alami, P.E.
country: USA
comment: When logic dies,fools believe they will stand up and become popular.Only real honest people can pass judgement on Mr. Marcell Khalife's honesty ,intention, honour, and his tolerence to other people belief. All these vertues and values are reflected by his words and his songs ,which echo through the walls of the churches and the mosques and the hearts of those who suffer in Palestine ,in Africa , and in many so called moslem countries .It takes people of integrity to even understand what Marcell Khalife stands for .Why then should we care what the fools think? The world love you Marcell . No one will ever dare or succeed to smear you or your reputation.Even the angels in heaven enjoying your voice.I do not worry about you. keep singing,Your words ultimately will drown the biggots and the fools who dared to point a finger at you. In the name of the oppressed in Palestine and every where ,I salute you .

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: James Ron
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Bridget Robbins
country: United States

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Rima Isam Anabtawi,M.A.
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Fadia Issam Rafeedie
country: USA
comment: Support freedom of speech and expression in the Arab World. Enough repression!

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: nawfal fassi-fihri
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Nancy Sami Mahmoud
country: United States

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: michal goldman
country: USA
comment: I have lived in Egypt during similar attacks. When I read about this attack on Marcel Khelife I was reminded of similar attacks in Egypt. I am glad to see an effort organized in his defense.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Habib Karam
country: USA
comment: What a shame!

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Lamia T. Faruki
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Emile Nucho
country: Canada

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: ZAFER SHORBAGI
country: Palastin - Haifa

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Ibtisam Barakat
country: U.S.A.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Ziad elJishi
country: USA
comment: Guarantee Arab rights and freedom foremost their precious Artistic talents. For a Progressive Arab future. Resist!

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Sanaa Makhoul
country: USA
comment: It is severely shameful to persecute Khalife who continues to carry out his calling in life the composition and performing of music, seriously, passionately, and committedly, and with a standard that speaks of his deepest respect for his culture and its peoples, especially when his persecution is carried out by his very own country that he vehemently advocates for.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Imad El-Sayed
country: United States of America
comment: Marcel Khalife has been and will forever remain a worthy representative of the Arab world and all its members, be they members of any religion.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Zeina EL-Azzi
country: Lebanon

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Mary Karen Solomon
country: United States
comment: Lebanon, you should be proud of and support your talented artists, rather than to conjure charges of no basis against them.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Randa Kayyali
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Miriam van der Sangen
country: The Netherlands
comment: Let's fight for our friends who have no freedom of expression. We must support them in every way.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Marc Azar
country: Canada

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Elias Abdallah
country: USA
comment: Free expression and speach are central to the survival of any society. Enough with the legacy of the victimizers, our former colonial rulers; we can not do unto ourselves what they have done unto us. Marcel must sing, Darwish must write, and we all must enjoy and respect our mutual space.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Dr. Mahmoud Al-Batal
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: kamal nawash
country: USA
comment: We will never advance as a people if we do not let people speak their mind. kamal

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: S Shihadi
comment: Freedom of speech cannot be denied to a great Arab musician.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Botrus Mansour
country: Israel
comment: Instead of fighting the true battles for justice the muslim fundementals gives benefit to all anti-Arab fources.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Ahmad ElKhatib
country: USA
comment: This is ridiculous !!! i am a moslem and i think that using religion in this nasty way to stop a great artist like Marcel Khalifa is just ridiculous !! .. I hope that we start encouraging thos who lighten up the spirit of patriorism and not discourage and eliminate them ! .. This is the least we can do !

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Munir Akash/ Editor
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Amira El-Zeinm/ Professor, Georgetown U
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Aziz Enhaili
country: Canada

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Mohamad F Saleh
country: United States of America

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Haissam Baityeh
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Hayate Rammash
country: USA
comment: Freedom of expression in a beautiful artistic musical way, sure.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Mayada Elsabbagh
country: Canada country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Rev. G. Simon Harak, S. J.
comment: Lebanon is my father and mother's ancient home. And they were musicians! Proud of their Lebanese heritage. Please do not dishonor their memory or their art.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Sari Kassis
country: Australia
comment: It is a shame when the official Arabs chase away, persecute and damn the shining lights of the Arab world. We cannot afford to stifle such brilliant voices and minds for the sake of the well being of a few over-fed politicians and sectarian leaders.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Virginia N. Sherry
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Georgette Ioup
country: USA
comment: I am thoroughly dismayed by this artistic oppression in Lebanon. My Image of Lebanon has always been that of a progressive country in terms fo the arts. How sad to see Lebanon fall to the level of the repressive Arab regimes.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Marwan R. Khalifeh
country: U.S.A.
comment: Let the government attend to the criminals within its ranks before attempting to undermine the freedoms of its people.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Mark Klein
country: Canada

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Rouane Itani
country: USA
comment: The charges against Marcel Khalifa are absurd and obsolete and should be dropped for good immediately. Lebanon should be waking up after the war, in the era of reconstruction. Freedom of expression and cultural diversity is the basis of the success of Lebanon and basic keys to its resurrection. Stop the charges now and support cultural, intellectual, musical and literary awakening.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Sameh Nssser
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Marianne Sarkis
country: USA
comment: At this day and age, we really should be over things like that, and instead encourage free thought and speech. That's the only way we can keep our status as the most progressive country in the Middle East!

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Mohammad Abu-Orf
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Marina Nassoura
country: San Francisco, CA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Judy Walker
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Dina Kasrawi
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: ahmed alomary country: USA comment: In my opinion We should not focus on little issues and rush to judge

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Yamila Hussein
country: Palestinian Occupied Territories

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Unknown
comment: Thank you Marcel, thank you Mahmoud Darwish, for everything! the two of you together made it easier for us to put up with our pain. You make me, as well as other arabs proud. I'm a muslim & will support you forever.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: sawsan abdulrahim
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Dr. Muhammad Hallaj
country: U.S.A.
comment: Stop trying to imprison thought. It is not only wrong but also stupid because it never works.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Yousef Saleh
country: USA
comment: I alway admire the openness and the freedom that exists in the Lebaneese life and culture. Please keep it the way.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Ibrahim and Maria Ebeid
country: USA
comment: Freedom and Justice in the Motherland

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Elias Ioup
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Nabil S. Muallem
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Nagi L. Sukkarieh
country: USA
comment: The only way an artist can be creative is to be allowed to express his/her opinion freely and unstrung; just like a bird is free to fly. However, we see a resurgence of oppressive regime in the midst of reconstruction and recivilization of Lebanon. What has become of us? I may or may not agree with his view points. But I have to give him credit for his art. Marcel has sang freely for the poor of Lebanon, for san3a', for Palestine, for 3ali, for jounoub etc... And when he continued to be free to fly we plan to shoot him down? shame on us!

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Sami Mashney
country: United States
comment: Sheikh Kabbani himself should be prosecuted for incitment and abuse of his religeous authority. Enough is enough. Those who proclaim to act pursuant to the mandate of God are themselves sinners when they twist religion to make it an instrument of hatred like Sheikh Kabbani did

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: saadeddine mneimneh
country: Lebanon
comment: I think the religious authorities are becoming more and more stupid. When are we going to mature? Ignorant people want to be responsible and leaders? This does not work. Why not cancelling all religious songs. I am sure that the names of Allah and Mohammed are present in many religious songs and these are words from the Quran!!! It is too sad.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: waleed albert
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Grace Said
country: USA country: Canada

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Nawwaf Kharma, Ph.D.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Nader Khalaf Uthman
country: USA comment: The government of Lebanon needs to continue its tradition of allowing freedom of expression and not topple to the forces of fundamentalism or extremism in any form. An attack on our artists is an attack on society as a whole.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Sam Shadid
country: USA/Syria

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Nader Coobtee
country: United States of America

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: musa al-hindi
country: u.s.a (palestinian born in lebanon)

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Said Sukkarieh
country: USA comment: The charges against Marcel Khalife are a flagrant violation of intellectual freedoms which should be an innate right for artists all over the world.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Kassem Tfayli
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Saleem Coobtee
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Rex Brynen
country: Canada

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Mohamad Sakker
country: USA
comment: The words of the song are just burrowing some verses and using the metaphore in a vey beutiful way. I don't understand how could any one be offended by it.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: maggie knowles
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: DELBERT M. LEPPKE
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Khaled Elgindy
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Walid Chamoun
country: Boston, USA
comment: Lebanon's action to prosecute Marcel Khalife is a major setback to our so-called "civilized behavior and mentality." This defeats the notion of freedom of speech and expression that we have so hypocritically placed upon ourselves.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Roy Jurgens
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Robert Burrage
country: USA
comment: I am British. Dump the charges against musician and composer Marcel Khalife. It makes you look like bloody fools. You are silly chaps.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Camille & Rita Stephan
country: USA
comment: Marcel is a symbol of freedom for many. Go ahead do what you need to do. He will only rise to be our hero, he will always be our hero. And the authority, will always be controled by fools.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Hala Taweel
country: USA
comment: It is frustrating to remain silent in the face of the blatently unjust accusations against the musician and composer Marcel Kahlife. Thank you for creating this webpage which allows us to express our outrage against these wrongful accusations and show our support to an artist we have always revered and admired.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Nabil Zebib
country: U.S.A
comment: I am absolutely appalled by these recent development that are taking place in the country that I love and pride myself on being rooted from. Of all the things that are going on in that part of the world, prosecuting Marcel Khalife is about the most repulsing.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Zeina Zaatari
country: Lebanon
comment: Such accusations are a constant reminder of the diminshed freedom available to intellectuals and various peoples of convictions in our countries. Examples prevail from Egypt to Algeria to Lebanon. The accusations and their declared 'justifications' might seem very random and episodic at first, but upon further examination, their political nature and calculated outcomes become easily detectable. It seems too surreal that in this day and age and at a time when Lebanon is in such economic and political turmoil that we would have to rally and organize for the right of an amazing individual to sing words that speak directly to our souls and everysingle person walking the streets of a town in Lebanon understands so completely. I wonder why aren't princes and presidents in our precious Arab Kingdoms being accused and persecuted for flagrant disregard of the words of the Qura'n when their people sleep hungry and tired as they partake proudly in the normalization process.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Nancy Mostafa
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Ghada Kanafani
country: United States of America
comment: What a shame!

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Awali Samara
country: U.S.A.

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: John Gerard William Minnery
country: Canada
comment: Please drop the charges against Marcel Khalife. Please consider his contributions to your people. Please respect freedom of opinion and expression

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Nasser Rabbat
country: USA

Monday, October 18, 1999
name: Ayham Dahi
country: Long Beach, CA U.S.A
comment: Marcel Khalife is one of the very few artist in the Arab world that speaks in the name of the oppressed and the weak. And of course this kind of message is not tolerated anywhere, to be tolerated in Lebanon where the only voice allowed is the voice of the rich and the powerful. Marcel Khalife is a very honest commited activist who has done nothing wrong. I heard the song and there is nothing offensive about it. Many other singers in the past like Sabah Fakhry sang from the Khoran al Sharif. Stop this hypocrisy now and stop using religion for political purposes. Ayham Dahi