Illustrative image of men chanting during the commemoration of the assassination of former Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah on Sept. 27, 2025, at his burial site in Beirut's southern suburbs. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient Today)
Hazem Saghieh is a journalist and writer. He is one of the leading figures in Arab journalism. He worked at As-Safir, then at al-Hayat, before joining al-Sharq al-Awsat in 2019. He is regarded as one of the most influential critical voices in contemporary Arab intellectual discourse. His books and articles primarily address issues of politics and culture, and are characterized by their critique of nationalist ideology, authoritarianism and political Islam.This week in L’Orient Today, he examines and critiques Hezbollah’s rhetoric through the traditional figure of the “qabaday,” an ambivalent character who combines protection, violence and masculine domination while exploiting the weakness of the state.“We have a score to settle with them, and soon.” “The enemy is bracing for the party’s attack.” “They have not yet seen a fraction of the...
Hazem Saghieh is a journalist and writer. He is one of the leading figures in Arab journalism. He worked at As-Safir, then at al-Hayat, before joining al-Sharq al-Awsat in 2019. He is regarded as one of the most influential critical voices in contemporary Arab intellectual discourse. His books and articles primarily address issues of politics and culture, and are characterized by their critique of nationalist ideology, authoritarianism and political Islam.This week in L’Orient Today, he examines and critiques Hezbollah’s rhetoric through the traditional figure of the “qabaday,” an ambivalent character who combines protection, violence and masculine domination while exploiting the weakness of the state.“We have a score to settle with them, and soon.” “The enemy is bracing for the party’s attack.” “They have not yet...
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