name: Sami Haouili
country: Canada
comment: Freedom of speech
Tuesday, November 02, 1999
name: Rodrigo Gonzalez-Arriola
country: Mexico
comment: Marcel Khalife speaks not only for himself, his country or the Arab nation; he is a true human being in the universal sense. It is a pity that because of narrow-mindedness such a figure should be incarcerated, or even put to trial.
Tuesday, November 02, 1999
name: Edward C. Corrigan, B.A., M.A., LL.B.
country: Canada
comment: I am a lawyer and one who has had to fight to present the Arab and Palestinian side of the story in Canada. Lebanon should value freedom and not be afraid of free speech. It is this kind of muddle headed thinking that has crippled the Arab World and hurt its reputation with fair minded individuals.
Tuesday, November 02, 1999
name: John Buttell
country: USA
Tuesday, November 02, 1999
name: kheer ebrahem abo elhija
country: israel
comment: marcel we are with u
Tuesday, November 02, 1999
name: steve gunter
country: America
comment: I am a teacher of history in Bentonville High School Bentonville, Arkansas...I join the chorus of protest in favor of intellectual and artistic freedom. Fight the Power...
Tuesday, November 02, 1999
name: John Kameel Farah
country: Canada
comment: Marcel Khalife intended to hurt no-one. Please remove all charges against him so that we may live in a free Arab world.
Tuesday, November 02, 1999
name: Rania Khalife
Wednesday, November 03, 1999
name: Tayseer Habib
country: Nigeria
comment: The innocence of Marcel is the freedom of speech in Lebanon. Goodluck
Wednesday, November 03, 1999
name: Maria Gatti
country: Québec-Canada
comment: C'est pour apporter mon soutien àla cause de Marcel Khalifé, que j'avais déja rencontré et vu en spectacle àMontréal (Québec), ou' il était l'invité du Centre d'études arabes pour le développement (Céad) dont je suis membre. C'est évident que le propos de M Khalifé n'est point d'offusquer les grandes traditions religieuses mais de parler du vécu des gens de sa partie du monde et de prendre partie pour les opprimés. C'est dommage que les obscurantistes de toutes les religions veulent encore freiner la liberté d'expression.
Wednesday, November 03, 1999
name: ANEEL KHANGER
country: golan
comment: we are with you
Wednesday, November 03, 1999
name: Alex Davids
country: England
Wednesday, November 03, 1999
name: Isam Ishaq
country: Palestine
Wednesday, November 03, 1999
name: Mohja Kahf
country: United States
comment: Please add my name to the petition in support of Marcel. I am outraged at what is being done to him. It is preposterous and immoral. I teach the Quranic backgrounds of Arabic literature and have used the poem/song in my classes to explore the influence of the Joseph sura. I am also a poet who sometimes uses Quranic phrases & Imagery in my own work. & I am a Muslim by the way, if that makes any difference.
Mohja Kahf
Assistant Professor
Department of English
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Wednesday, November 03, 1999
name: Khalida Jarra
country: Palestine
comment: Dear Macel, we send our strong solidarity with you. From all the workers , volunteers and lawyers , ADDAMEER, is a palestinian Human Rights organization follow up and Support the political Prisoners at Israeli Prisons and Palestinian , also Last week we shre on the international day for closing Al-khiam detention for lebanese Prisoners . Please accept our solidarity from Palestine and on the name of all Palestinians and Arab prisoners at Israeli Jails.
Khalida Jarrar
Director
Wednesday, November 03, 1999
name: HAZAR EL-CHAMAA
country: England
comment: I was shocked and angry (understatement)when I heard about this charge! I am a student of Human Rights law, and I am doing my masters course in london. In fact this prompted me to base my dissertation on 'freedom of expression' in the middle east using this case as an example. However I still hope that those in authority will come to their senses!! what the hell do they think they are doing?????? Please reply if you could give me any information on the legal basis for this trial if indeed there are any??! It would be appreciated.
Wednesday, November 03, 1999
name: julie gengo
country: U.S.A.
comment: You bring charges against an artist because you think he's making fun of you. Come on. You and your authorities sound like spoiled brats whose egos have been damaged. I have a funny feeling God wouldn't approve of your childish behavior. Feel free to contact me if you truly want to see the light. Your acts are selfish and I know the rest of the world can see right through you as I have.
Wednesday, November 03, 1999
name: George Robinson
country: USA
comment: As a music critic and lyricist, I am appalled at your treatment of Khalife.
Wednesday, November 03, 1999
name: Kathryn Spencer
country: Canada
comment: I ask simply and humbly that peace prevail and the world be allowed to enjoy the work of artists and intellectuals from your country. Please drop the charges against this composer. Your country may take pride in his work.
Sincerely,
Kathryn Spencer from Canada
Wednesday, November 03, 1999
name: Khalil Shakhtour
country: USA
comment: I am shocked at the lebanese government. They don't want us even to speak.
Wednesday, November 03, 1999
name: Stacey Smith
country: United States of America
comment: Freedom of speech should be a guarenteed right to every human world wide. It will be a great day when this right is granted.
Wednesday, November 03, 1999
name: ahmed ashour
country: palestine
Wednesday, November 03, 1999
name: rania ashour
country: palestine
comment: all palestenian people with you marcel
Wednesday, November 03, 1999
name: FADI HAIK
country: palestine
comment: Marcel we all with u & will not let these folish & oldtradtion people to control our lives & chose for us what to sing so we will stay always with u
Wednesday, November 03, 1999
name: hana ashour
country: palestine
comment: all palestenian people with you marcel
Wednesday, November 03, 1999
name: sana ashour
country: palestine
comment: all palestenian people with you marcel
Wednesday, November 03, 1999
name: mariam ashour
country: palestine
comment: all palestenian people with you marcel
Wednesday, November 03, 1999
name: Saad Amer
country: Palestine
Wednesday, November 03, 1999
name: Sammy Mansour
country: Palestine
Wednesday, November 03, 1999
name: Khader K. Hussein,M.D.
country: U.S.A.
comment: I share Mahmoud Darwish's feeling of shame and indignation at the outrageous charge being leveled at Marcel Khalife.It is about time for the authorities in Lebanon to put a quick end to this charade.
Wednesday, November 03, 1999
name: Eyad Kishawi
country: US
comment: Pity a nation that prosecutes its thinkers° and honors its foreign proxies.
Thursday, November 04, 1999
name: Bruce Hill
country: New Zealand
comment: The principle of freedom of expression is everywhere under threat. This has to be fought.
Thursday, November 04, 1999
name: Alaeddin Jarrar
country: Philippines
comment: To Marcel Khalifa,
Please remember the end of Yusif story in Quran, he gets the glory and respect. He forgives his brothers who mistreated him. I wish your story ends like his.
Thursday, November 04, 1999
name: NASSER ZAHR
country: AUSTRALIA
comment: I AM A SOUTH LEBANESE WHO HAS LIVED IN AUSTRALIA SINCE 1976 AT THE AGE OF 8 YEARS OF AGE AND THE ONLY PERSON WHO INTRODUCE ME AND GAVE ME KNOWLEDGE OF WHERE I CAME FROM AND WHAT IT MEANT TO BE A LEBANESE AND ESPECIALLY A SOUTH LEBANESE, WOULD HAVE TO BE MARCEL KHALIFE AND HIS BEAUTIFUL MUSIC AND LYRICS. I BELIEVE IN MARCEL AND RESPECT HIS DECISION TO PERFORM THE SONG HE IS ACCUSED OF. I AM AGAINST ANY JUDGEMENT AGAINST THIS GREAT ARTIST WHO HAS GIVEN SO MUCH BEAUTY TO THE COUNTRY OF LEBANON THROUGH HIS MUSIC.
Thursday, November 04, 1999
name: Christina Johansson
country: Sweden
Thursday, November 04, 1999
name: Adib Abboud
country: Lebanese residing in New York, U.S.A.
comment: Marcel I have been a big fan of yours and the nationalistic lyrics that you express. I would like to apologize for the narrowminded people that live among us, and I would also like to apologize on behalf my my country lebanon and the sorrow that it had brought you. I feel the anguish that you are going through. But the thing that disturbes me is that, after 16 years of war, you might think, we as Lebanese, have come to an understanding that we are all one and it does not matter what religion we believe in, since we all answer to one superior entity, being god. People who are so fundamental and narrow minded have still to realize that because of their thoughts we destroyed our country, our name as lebanese, our dignity and our families. So, on behalf of my country lebanon and I, I send you my apologies and my support. And I would like to say one thing, Lebanon open up your eyes, we are all one, living in one nation...Grow up..when will the day come, where we will ! stop asking what religion are you, and focus on what kind of a person one is on the inside ?
Truly yours
Adib Abboud 100%
Thursday, November 04, 1999
name: Nadia Al-Bagdadi
country: Germany , Lebanon
Thursday, November 04, 1999
name: Fawzi Mohamad Yaqub
country: U.S.A.
comment: I believe that a trial of Marcel Khalife would be harmful to Lebanon and its reputation as an open, democratic, and civilized country.
Thursday, November 04, 1999
name: stefano chiarini
country: italy
comment: In solidarity
Thursday, November 04, 1999
name: Natasha Mellon
country: northern ireland
Thursday, November 04, 1999
name: Shaun A. Starr
country: U.S.A.
Thursday, November 04, 1999
name: Hicham Zewaid
country: USA... Moroccan
comment: I am in full of support of marcel khalife. It's time to let the artist speak their mind and tell it as it is... We are about to embraque in the 21Th century and we still lack the opportunity to express ourselves...
Thursday, November 04, 1999
name: mike
country: england
Thursday, November 04, 1999
name: Shafik al-Mansur
country: USA
comment: such actions as this charge reflect the fact that repressive and reactionary forces must be continually opposed in order to prevent their strangulation of creative thought and culture in an attempt to impose a narrow and medieval interpretation of morality upon a free-thinking people of the world.
Thursday, November 04, 1999
name: tarik khoury
country: israel
comment: MARCEL!!! We are with you.
Thursday, November 04, 1999
name: Michael
country: Scotland
comment: You all thought that Lebanon will be a free country one day, will have a free and broadminded society!!!! I am very astonished with all the hype about a singer who wanted to express his feelings about a society that is oppressed and depressed under the brutal occupation of both Israel and Syria. The truth is that Lebanon will never be allowed to rest in peace because the mentality of the people who resides there is very much disturbed and limited. There is a saying that we all used in Lebanon which is extremely true and it is YOU CANNOT SEE BEYOND YOUR NOSES. Muslims and Christians are worse than each other and it is a pity that the so called rulers of the Lebanon are also as narrow minded as the occupiers. Finally Marcel's trial is only the beginning of a mass hatred orchestrated by filthy uneducated and dirty minded creatures who refuses to let go of old fashioned theories and beliefs.
Thursday, November 04, 1999
name: Rabeea Assy + Khairi Shair
country: 1948 Arabs
comment: We live in Fassouta, near the boundaries with lebanon. We hear what happens and we are in shock!! Marcel is a symbol for our nation, we love him very much, behind the siege of the Zionist State. We stand by Marcel and refuse any condemn that stands on the contrary of freedom and art. God Bless You Marcil - All The Arabs With You And Of course God And Yousif are with you.
Thursday, November 04, 1999
name: issam
country: Tunisia
comment: Good work. Continue. Bonne chance.
Friday, November 05, 1999
name: Taimor
country: Australia
comment: It's time we Arabs and Muslims got pass these unconfident and dictatorial actions.
Friday, November 05, 1999
name: kanan mustafa
country: us
Friday, November 05, 1999
name: John Imrie
country: USA
Friday, November 05, 1999
name: Salim Nasser
country: USA
comment: Dear all: You have probably heard the news of the accusations formulated against Marcel Khalife by Lebanon's Grand Mufti Sheikh Mufti Mohammed Rashid Qabbani. The accusations of the Grand Mufti have found support in a number of religious, political, and social communities in Lebanon and Mr. Khalife will stand trial for blaspheme on November 3d. Although we hold all respect for religious officials and understand that they are responding to the call of duty, we still believe that the particular accusations voiced against Mr. Khalife are unfounded and unfair. If nothing at all, Mr. Khalife has made freedom and liberty and the plight of the Lebanese and Palestinian people the mission of his lifetime. I am in the process of gathering a petition of a 1,000 votes that will be submitted to the Lebanese newspaper the Daily Star. I am calling you for your cooperation to this modest contribution supporting the cause of Mr. Khalife. First, please add your name to the bottom of the petitioners' list below and reply to me (SEzzedeen@worldnet.att.net) and then forward this email to as many people as possible instructing them to do the same. Let us hope that we can pull this petition before the beginning of Mr. Khalife's trial.
Sincerely yours,
Souha Ezzedeen
Petitioners: Souha Ezzedeen, Khaldoun Bou Assi, Ashraf Osman, Rosie Nasser
Friday, November 05, 1999
name: Souha Ezzedeen
country: USA
comment: We are behind you Marcel...your case is ours, your fight is ours.
Friday, November 05, 1999
name: Ahmed Nassef
country: USA
comment: Shame on all of us for putting one of our greatest artists through this mockery on Islam and Arabs. Is this the thanks we give for an artists who expresses profound respect for our cultural heritage?
Friday, November 05, 1999
name: Hassana Jamaleddine
country: Beirut, Lebanon
comment: Marcel is as clean as whiteness can be..
Friday, November 05, 1999
name: Sana Odeh
country: USA
comment: I am very sad to see a great artist like Marcel on trial. Marcel's is among the few Arab artists that shaped the identity of an entire Arab generation growing up under the war. Macel should be honored and not punished. We should be proud of our articulate and dedicated artist. To loose freedom of expression is to loose our sole as a nation. There would be no more art. We should start morning.
Friday, November 05, 1999
name: farras abdelnour
country: new york, usa
comment: the ignorance is utterly despicable! what is going on amounts to a stab of democracy, or whatever can be described as such. one can only wonder what twisted priority list exists in our arab homeland. shame!
Friday, November 05, 1999
name: Jihad habash
country: lebanon
comment: with marcel to victory
Friday, November 05, 1999
name: Munir Fakhreddin
country: The occupied Golan Heights, Syria
comment: To defend such a case, for the sake of freedom of expression, is only part of a wider struggle.
Friday, November 05, 1999
name: sarah leah whitson
country: usa
Friday, November 05, 1999
name: Maha Kassis
country: Israel
comment: I wish to express my disapproval for the humiliating charges against Marcel Khalife. He should be honored for his great musical contributions, not dragged to courts for singing about the pain and suffering of his people.
Friday, November 05, 1999
name: A.E.M.
country: Palestine
comment: I personally think that we sometimes waste time and energy on trivial issues. Let us be together for once and let us have some freedom in expressing our thoughts. Marcel is one of the best artists and singers of all times. Such attacks and charges are simply ludicrous. They merely put a more negative charge on the atmosphere and make it almost impossible for us to go forward with our culture and our unified position.
Friday, November 05, 1999
name: Despina Costandindis
country: United States
comment: I don't see anything wrong with his song. He always been a Singer that express the people pain. All what he does in his songs is tell the people story. Since when it's a crime to just speak your mind and give the people some comfort in a song. Please let him be free so that he can continue to help people deal with their pain and live in their life. All what he does is help us to go through the day.
Friday, November 05, 1999
name: hicham baydoun
country: lebanon
comment: la verite que pour nous eloinges des problemes libanais ils ont fait ce probleme ...et ils ont choisis marceil parce qu'ils saches tres bien qu'il est avec les pauvres et qui n'est pas forte en politique et il n'est pas avec syrie alors finalement j'aime vous souhaiter de depasser cette periode avec beaucoup d'espoir de renouveller votre travaux et nous donnons tes perles a travers tes paroles ...
Friday, November 05, 1999
name: C. Begin
country: France
Friday, November 05, 1999
name: tony saade
country: lebanon, batroun
comment: all the right for you man. i like you marcel and your songs. bye
Friday, November 05, 1999
name: jihad hindawi
country: lebanon
comment: i think Marcel served our cases more than any other one he sang for palestine and the entifada children and forlebanon and for south and he made our voice higher and that made many people know our case so such person must have respect not trail
Friday, November 05, 1999
name: ahmad
country: saudi arabia
comment: silly act from muslim people
