name: yaser zumrawi
country: USA
comment: and so is this one ,a new face of the saga that we are still digging in the darkness for a "promised dawn", it might be as those who passed , a gift to analyze how much did the intellectual writing do to create a modern time that can have a room for everybody as long as he wants to express what his conscious leads him to say. Yousif is the symbol shows our loneless in the time of the loma , and he remains to be so.
the love to Mahmoud Darwesh and Marcel Khalifa.
Saturday, November 20, 1999
name: stefan brinkmann
country: germany
comment: j'ai écouté a la radio que le musicien marcel khalifé
est pour l'instant en prison, a cause d'une chanson qu'il a
chanté en 1996. le liban etait connu demonkratique, libre. ainsi tous les arabes qui ont eu
des problemes de parler dela politique, se sont venue au liban et ils
ont chanté la liberté,et maintenant le chanteur de la liberté est en prison .
pour cela et comme je le connais de ces connecert ici en allemagne
j'aimerais bien qu'il soit libre et chante la liberté.
mes salutation distingués.
Sunday, November 21, 1999
name: Michael Quffa
country: Palestine
Monday, November 22, 1999
name: Charaf Benarafa
country: United Kingdom
Monday, November 22, 1999
name: isabelle nobiron
country: UK
comment: I wish the freedom of expression existed everywhere and religions in general were more tolerant. Good luck in your fight for freedom
Monday, November 22, 1999
name: Michael Hamaguchi
country: Stanislaus,Ca
comment: This Is What Happens When Peoples Extreme Beliefs Override Their Minds. let the poor man go free...thats all I have to say
Tuesday, November 23, 1999
name: Georges Jarjour
country: Canada
comment: The longer this non sense trial goes on, the more embarrassing it becomes to all of us. God bless you Marcel, stay strong.
Tuesday, November 23, 1999
name: Khalil El-Saghir
country: Michigan, USA
comment: He, who taught us, in the midst of the evil storm, how to yearn for our mothers' bread, coffee, and touch, in a pray-like hymn, shall not be subdued in the name of God. . He, whose music and lyrics ignited our souls to rebel against the hypocritical sectarianism, shall not be left alone to be stoned by the revengeful hypocrites. He, whose "Ya Ali" cry will forever reverberate on the hills and in the wadis: "Where will you find here a space for a free mind and unchained hands?!", will never cease to be the voice of the voiceless. Marcel, you are Yousif, indeed!
Tuesday, November 23, 1999
name: Rosie Marcello
country: italy
Tuesday, November 23, 1999
name: May Hamed
country: Lebanon
comment: All what I want to say, is that we love you Marcel.. No matter what they will say ,no matter what they will do: you will stay for ever after and :"s-tantaser"
Tuesday, November 23, 1999
name: Roland Adams
country: USA
comment: Please free this man NOW!
Tuesday, November 23, 1999
name: abdulrahman hasan
country: amman-jordan
comment: you are really a freat voice in time of silence
Tuesday, November 23, 1999
name: mouktadi amine
country: maroc
comment: je suis solidaire avec vous
Tuesday, November 23, 1999
name: hamid tebatou
country: maroc
comment: je suis avec toi contre le fachisme
Tuesday, November 23, 1999
name: bushra Karaman
Tuesday, November 23, 1999
name: Sameh Al-Natour
country: Canada
comment: Every story has two sides, and I think this story is no different. I will understand why some people will find the poem offensive. But what I can not understand is why is Marcel accused here. The poem was published in all of the Arab countries including Lebanon, and no one had any problem with it. But now they do. It is tricky, Human Rights or Cultural Relativism.
Tuesday, November 23, 1999
name: Pierce R. Butler
country: USA
comment: Certainly the government of Lebanon must have more important
work to do than monitoring the lyrics of songs!
Wednesday, November 24, 1999
name: Banning Eyre
country: USA
comment: A society should air its religious disagreements openly. It should also allow artists free expression. When one side seeks to dominate the other using the machinery of the State, dangerous imbalances result. Khalife is plainly within his rights. If clerics wish to object to lines from the koran being sung, let them do so. But to call it blasphemy and prosecute an artist who has given so much to his society is excessive and foolish. It can only serve to undermine support for religious authorities.
Wednesday, November 24, 1999
name: Ali El-Saghir
country: U.S.A.
comment: To whom said "Mountaseba el kamate amshi..." I say fear not their judgment my friend, they are too small to reach the level of freedom you gave to the Millions in the Arabic world, we are far from the beloved land but not when we hear your voice. I wonder if you were American citizen or from any other Western country, what kind of rewards you would've been given? Thanks for our judicial authorities (ya ahlan...)!
Wednesday, November 24, 1999
name: Michel Khleifi
country: Belgium
Wednesday, November 24, 1999
name: Paivi Mattila
country: Finland
Wednesday, November 24, 1999
name: khair
comment: we love you for ever
the sun will raise
Wednesday, November 24, 1999
name: said murad/kamilya jubran
country: jerusalem/palestine
comment: no more comments than already mentioned!
Wednesday, November 24, 1999
name: mohammed hamdan
country: milwaukee
comment: I see the song to be symbolic and non offensive.
I think the charges are very nearsighted and
ignorant. The singer that put the suffering
of my people the best and expressed it with
honor and courage was attacked by our governments.
It is the story of our lives, the Palestinians and
Lebanese. We are determined to be prosecuted
for the true love to our homelands and humanity.
Wednesday, November 24, 1999
name: Omar Al-Qattan
country: United Kingdom
Wednesday, November 24, 1999
name: GALAND, Pierre Professeur àl'ULB
country: Belgique
Wednesday, November 24, 1999
name: Ali Elhorr
country: U.S.A
comment: wala zaif!
Wednesday, November 24, 1999
name: Marina Barham
country: Palestine
Wednesday, November 24, 1999
name: Dan Richards
country: Palestine
Wednesday, November 24, 1999
name: Inad Theatre
country: Palestine
Wednesday, November 24, 1999
name: Moe Saklaway
country: USA
Wednesday, November 24, 1999
name: Youssef Rakha
country: Egypt
Thursday, November 25, 1999
name: Ahmed El Attar
country: Egypt/France
comment: Being an Arab artist, I think what is happening with Marcel is more than a shame. It is a dangerous and very threatening situation that is prevailing over the whole Arab world. In a time when economic, political and social crisis are erasing the strength of our Arab cultural concentrated in its variety, and giving birth to extremist fascist movements that risk to destroy years of civilisation and give birth to complete Chaos, the Arab states absorbed by their personal interests are killing the only hope of redemption which are the artists and thinkers of today.
Let us stand together in this case and in any other similar case where the artistic or intellectual integrity of the Arab artists is threatened.
Thursday, November 25, 1999
name: Paivi Mattila
country: Finland
Thursday, November 25, 1999
name: Bilal Bazzi
country: USA
comment: Marcel is a great and honest individual. Get off his back!
Thursday, November 25, 1999
name: Jihad Srour
country: USA
comment: Good luck our friend
Thursday, November 25, 1999
name: Adnan Islaih
country: Palestine
comment: I would like to express my solidarity with Marcel Khalifa as a singer and
as revolutionary, who expresses in his songs the hope and pain of this nation.
Khalifa managed through his songs to gather all the Arabs and to sing
together hope and peace, Thanks to Marcel and his supporters. The judgment
will be for all the Arab nation and their culture!!! STOP THAT!
Thursday, November 25, 1999
name: BASHAR KHALIL
country: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Friday, November 26, 1999
name: Fikry Younis
country: Palestinian
comment: we should ascend with our level of thinking to face the real challenges facing us as Muslims and as Arabs.
Islam is facing greater challenges and have more powerful enemies than Marcel, who is nothing compared to the Israelis and their allies who are showing Muslims as fundamentalist terrorists and who are aiming at Jerusalem and our holy land.
with our current situation as Arabs, our remaining battle is the cultural historical battle. Mahmoud Darwish says: " He who writes the story, inherits the land of that story". Khalife and Darwish are writing our story, they are leaders in our historical battle with the other and we should by no means attack them or weaken their strength............we should be doing the contrary.
Culture and History is our battle!!!....with the other not with ourselves!!!!
Friday, November 26, 1999
name: shukry
country: Germany
comment: Hallo Maenner
Friday, November 26, 1999
name: adeeb
country: Canada
comment: I am so shocked I dont know what to say. I cant believe that the judge has any self respect if lets trail go on for more than one second. If I was the judge I would just say "Case Dismissed" and the I would investigate the people who brought the charges against you. What I dont understand is how could you accuse someone of blasphemy against islam when they are not even muslim? If the judge wants blasphemy tell him I called my dog mohamed and my cat Fatima okay.
Friday, November 26, 1999
name: T. Haine
country: UK
comment: Freedom of expression should be respected in every country around the world. However, having read the lyrics to the song by M.K., I cannot see how he could be insulting Islam, after all he didn't use any bad language -- he seemed very respectful.
On the whole he seemed to narrate the story -- and there is nothing wrong with that since it falls in line with the oral tradition. After all, it was the oral tradition that carried the Qur'an through the generations and preserved the book that we have today. Personally, I would argue that his work falls in line with Islamic tradition. The only difference was his adding music to the story -- but the music here is just a "difference". He is clearly an innovative man who wanted to make a valid contribution, so were many of the greatest artists, scientists and scholars of our time. The progress and success of the mid east will only be achieved through the willingness to make a difference. The innovation of Mr M.K. is to be commended and encouraged if the mid east is to move forward.
Friday, November 26, 1999
name: Fadi Racy
country: Canada
comment: Hell yeah!
Friday, November 26, 1999
name: Krystal Beckham
country: United States of America
Friday, November 26, 1999
name: Silvia liertz
country: Canada and Australia
Friday, November 26, 1999
name: Ben Lavigne
country: Montreal, Canada
Friday, November 26, 1999
name: Steve Rhodes
country: United States
Friday, November 26, 1999
name: Basim Daoud
country: United States
comment: I really feel that this is a travesty of justice. He committed no wrong doing. The people taking up this case are the ones who should be on trial for denying the basic human rights of an individual.
Friday, November 26, 1999
name: Issa Riziq
country: United States
comment: This is a terrible thing what the are doing to this wonderful musician
Friday, November 26, 1999
name: Issam Hawit
country: USA
comment: I am appalled at these fraudulent accusations.
I have listened to Marcel for many years now, and I have never known him to be anything but a true patriot and champion of peace and tranquility.
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: Sameh Wahba
country: Egypt
comment: Youssef Chahine, then Nasr Abou Zeid, and now Marcel Khalife.
Is this a plot against Arab intellect and culture?
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: Mai Masri and Jean Chamoun
country: Lebanon
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: Salma Ahmad Massoud
country: Egypt
comment: I can't believe that Marcel, the symbol of love and jealousy for his homeland is being prosecuted. I am a Moslem and I am saying that it is not fair. Marcel DOES NOT mean blasphemy, Marcel is way above being suspected.
For God's sake, stop this "mahzala"
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: hatem a. ahmad
country: canada
comment: marcel is one of the best if not the best artist lebanon ever produced. i can't believe that the lebanese government is punishing an artist who had devoted his entire life for the arab cause. an artist who's songs kept us fighting for freedom and resisting occupations. the lebanese government should be ashamed of itself and i truly believe they should drop the charges and apologize to marcel in public. marcel's art and voice are what kept our dignity intact during the dark days of the lebanese war.
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: Mohamed BEN HENDA
country: Tunisia & Switzerland
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: Elias Davidsson
country: Iceland
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: N. Amer
country: USA
comment: This is so sad. I am a muslim woman originally from egypt and I strongly support Marcel Khalife, the famous singer. When you guys gonna wake-up. We are reaching the millennium and our arab officials still live in the past and dark ages.
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: Hakam Malky
country: Italy
comment: My solidarity to Marcel. The accusation is not only abnormal, it is ridiculous.
Thank you Marcel for existing!
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: Samer Jarjoui
country: Kuwait
comment: Give me a break!!! We finally have a person who sings and gets our generation to understand the issues that are facing our country and WE GO AGAINST HIM!!!!!!
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: Hala Ghattas
country: Jordan
comment: Marcel Khalife has always been our dream to freedom, he always expressed our feelings of love to our homelands, our feeling of anger towards our bad situations in the Arab world
Marcel Khalife has always been sensitive to other people's feelings, never hurt race, religion, or anything.
I love this artist, and consider him the true brother and friend though never met him, but he was always close to every arab national
I fully support this ARAB artist
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: rita abu-jaber
country: usa
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: Hayssam Hulays
country: Canada
comment: It is appalling that the Lebanese justice system sees it fit to prosecute Marcel Khalife. I am sending my support and best wishes to Mr Khalife. His songs and compositions have helped me go through hard times.
in solidarity
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: Mahdi Tahir
country: Sudan
comment: To: The Islamist and their lackeys
Message: Hands-off Marcel Khalife
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: Elfadil Elhashim
country: Canada
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: Nawal Hassan
country: Canada
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: Omer Elkhair
country: Canada
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: Sulaima Suliman
country: Canada
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: E'shafei Omer
country: Canada
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: Abdalla Nugud
country: Canada
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: Abdel Azeem Sarour
country: Canada
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: Isam Ali
country: Canada
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: Stephanie Genkin
country: USA
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: Kassem Cheatani
country: Canada
comment: First to all Lebanease: Let's all play this song and aloud on that dark Dec. 1st. Let's be proud of Marcel. He is the finest and rare product of our society. Let's cheer him and be with him whereever he is. some of us thought the war is gone and started to see some sight of hope for a better country. Some others didn't beleave it since the same corrupted people and consequently the system are still in place. The war could've stopped but unfortunatly not finished. The harrassmet of this big artist (Marcel) is the eye witness of our long dark days (wal ati aazam)
Let's say to Marcel: You're not alone, you have the people on your side and they they have the evil.
To those who are accusing Marcel of such a thing:
I seriously invite you to listen to the song an other time, of course with a clear mind this time! Than honestly ask your self this question, isn't he the only one who interpreted clearly the koranic words in a way that everyone can understand and feel? When some people like Marcel Khalifé and Mahmoud Darwich, who have the talent and the courage, do this sacred job, we should be thankfull to them and consider rewarding them instead. What they did, especially Marcel, has showed that he is more Muslum then many and many other pretenders... Enough is enough, we have lost more than enough from our intellectuals, writers, doctors and the list is long. Judging Marcel Khalifé means assassinating the very little freedom we have left for us lebanease people. Be real, get a life and leave people alone!!!
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: bidawey yosef
country: usa
comment: The message is supposed to go to the Serian Government because in Lebanon they are just followers of what Seria tells them to do. They are puppets doing what the master is ordering them to do.
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: nawras
country: jordan
comment: i support u marcel with my heart ..i will "defend" u in protest if they get u ...i promise u that
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: Dr. Yasir Elsharif, M.D.
country: Germany
Saturday, November 27, 1999
name: David
country: Lebanon
comment: The trial of Mr. Khalifeh is nothing but another evidence of how cheap and low our morals and values have gone. We live in a country where great artists that have faithfully served Lebanon such as Mr. Khalifeh are brought to trial because words of one of his songs remind some verses of the Koran, whereas outlaws are occupying ministerial positions! This is disgusting and frustrating...
Sunday, November 28, 1999
name: Rania Madi
comment: I just want to sign the petition with Marcel khalifeh. thanks and inform us if we can make something useful for him.
Sunday, November 28, 1999
name: Salma Igram
country: USA
Sunday, November 28, 1999
name: beegoo
country: lebanon
comment: when are we going to let religions run just our faith instead of our lives?
what kind of freedom do we have when we can't even express ourselves...
the 21st century is around the corner and look what they're worried about...
Sunday, November 28, 1999
name: Lisa Aghnisia Faddoul
country: Australia
Sunday, November 28, 1999
name: miriam van der sangen
country: The Netherlands
comment: I support Marcel Khalife from the Netherlands where freedom of expression is a basic right of everybody living here. It needs to be a basic right of all people in the world.
Sunday, November 28, 1999
name: Catherine Underwood
country: United States of America
Sunday, November 28, 1999
name: Waleed
country: Sudan
Sunday, November 28, 1999
name: Rachid Bromi
country: Morocco
comment: Je voudrais exprimer toute ma solidarité
avec Marcel Khalife, et par la meme occasion
avec tous les libres penseurs du monde arabe
et d'ailleurs.
Sunday, November 28, 1999
name: Gasim Hassan
country: England
comment: I strongly support your action.
I wish all those who believe in the right of
people to live a free life, without the fear of
prosecution for any reason, to stand up for this
cause. It's clear that the 'forces of the dark
ages' will keep trying their dirty tricks if we
don't.
Sunday, November 28, 1999
name: Rama Mari
country: Tunis - Tunisia
comment: I support Marcell Khalifeh and the freedom of expression,hoping we can get rid of the mental chains we have one day
Sunday, November 28, 1999
name: Brent Arniotis
country: Canada
Sunday, November 28, 1999
name: Rafic Ellis
country: US
comment: One would have thought that Lebanon, with all her claims to modernity and cultural preeminence, would not have stooped so low in this reactionary action.
Sunday, November 28, 1999
name: Dr. Jamal G. Al-Radaideh
comment: This is a trial for all of us Because we are the guilty not Marcel who tried to inspire and enlighten us. Guilty for our many many failures the least of which is stopping such an assault on integrity, freedom and hope.
Sunday, November 28, 1999
name: Samira Badran
country: Barcelona Spain
comment: Tolerance and free expression make the nations
rise far from darkness.
Sunday, November 28, 1999
name: OMER SIDAHMED
country: U.S.A
Sunday, November 28, 1999
name: Ala Rabady
country: USA
comment: Free Marcel Now!! Let us take our place among the tolerant and freedom-loving peoples of the world...
