The new president of Beirut's Municipality, Ibrahim Zeidan, was received by the head of the "Islamic Welfare Association," Sheikh Houssameddine Karakira, on May 28, 2025. (Credit: @ansaralmashari/X)
The Association of Islamic Philanthropic Projects (APIB), also known as the “Project Advocates” or simply the Ahbash, is a Sunni political group that played a key role in Lebanon’s recent municipal elections. From Tripoli to Baalbeck, via Beirut, their broad geographic reach stood out — especially at a time when Sunni politics is increasingly fragmented and dominated by local leaders and businessmen, amid the continued withdrawal of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri.Yet, despite this brief surge in visibility, the “Project Advocates” — as they prefer to be called — remain relatively obscure. Even their president, Sheikh Houssameddine Karakira, is a little-known and reclusive figure.For decades, the group’s opaque identity was often reduced to its perceived proximity to Hezbollah and, more notably, to the Assad regime in Syria. But with...
The Association of Islamic Philanthropic Projects (APIB), also known as the “Project Advocates” or simply the Ahbash, is a Sunni political group that played a key role in Lebanon’s recent municipal elections. From Tripoli to Baalbeck, via Beirut, their broad geographic reach stood out — especially at a time when Sunni politics is increasingly fragmented and dominated by local leaders and businessmen, amid the continued withdrawal of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri.Yet, despite this brief surge in visibility, the “Project Advocates” — as they prefer to be called — remain relatively obscure. Even their president, Sheikh Houssameddine Karakira, is a little-known and reclusive figure.For decades, the group’s opaque identity was often reduced to its perceived proximity to Hezbollah and, more notably, to the Assad regime in...