Aoun pays tribute to Imam Shamseddine on the 25th anniversary of his passing

BEIRUT — President Joseph Aoun paid tribute Sunday to the late spiritual leader of Lebanon’s Shiite community and vice president of the Supreme Shiite Council, Imam Mohammad Mehdi Shamseddine, hailing him as “a man of distinction.”

On the 25th anniversary of his passing, the head of state said: “Today, as on every day, we remember a man of distinction who was able to combine profound thought with genuine national commitment. The late imam left a mark on Lebanon’s history: as a man of religion and an enlightened thinker, he believed in a united, indivisible Lebanon and steadfastly defended coexistence.”

Known for his great wisdom and broad, undeniable religious authority, Shamseddine led his community throughout all phases of the Lebanese civil war (1975-1990), succeeding Imam Moussa Sadr, who was indisputably the primary architect of the Shiite awakening in Lebanon and succeeded in equipping the community with solid political, social, and even military-security structures.

Mohammad Mehdi Shamseddine was able to manage and guide his predecessor’s legacy with discernment and calm.

“His courageous national positions during the darkest moments served as a beacon for all Lebanese. As for his enlightened thinking, combining authenticity and openness, attachment to identity and faith in dialogue, it remains a precious national legacy of which we are proud, and which we continue to uphold as we move toward building a strong and just Lebanese state,” Aoun continued.

“The best tribute we can pay to the memory of this great man is to follow his example by putting the national interest first, respecting diversity, and working realistically for a free, sovereign and independent Lebanon,” he concluded.