It is a name every Lebanese knows, yet one that some hesitate to utter too loudly when asked about it, almost invariably insisting on special precautions and complete anonymity. Banker — chairman and CEO of SGBL — philanthropist and media tycoon, a "kingmaker" of MPs as much as of deals, Antoun Sehnaoui has become one of Lebanon's most influential figures. From the management of the banking crisis to negotiations with Israel, if one scratches just beneath the surface, his name is never far away. Operating behind the scenes, pulling strings and imposing his narrative and methods on those who stand in his way, he inspires both fascination and fear. How did he manage to position himself at the heart of so many of the country’s defining issues while scarcely setting foot in Lebanon anymore? Why is so little known about him, his networks of influence and his ambitions? It is this mystery that we set out to unravel in this five-part portrait series, exploring the growing shadow that holds part of Lebanon’s fate in its hands. Contacted for an interview, Antoun Sehnaoui and his father, Nabil Sehnaoui, declined to comment and sought an injunction before Beirut's summary proceedings judge Nadine Doumit to block the publication of this investigation. Their request was rejected on the grounds that prohibiting the publication of an article would violate the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Lebanese Constitution. Antoun Sehnaoui subsequently sought a second injunction, on Thursday, July 30, before Beirut's summary proceedings judge, Fatima Bazzi. This new request had two objectives: to block publication of the series' final three episodes, and to have the episodes already published taken down. On the first point, the judge again rejected the request, on the grounds that prohibiting publication would violate the freedom of expression guaranteed under the Lebanese Constitution. On the second, she ruled that no injunctive relief was necessary given the articles already published, referring the plaintiffs to a ruling on the merits. L’Orient-Le Jour accepts no responsibility for the content of any unauthorized reproductions, republished versions or translations of this article that may be circulating online since the publication of our series. These versions, produced without our authorization, should not be considered as accurately reflecting the original articles published by L’Orient-Le Jour.
Published on 28 July 2026 18:09 , updated on 03 August 2026 13:33
