LEBANON: The highest spiritual authority for the Druze community in the Middle East, Sheikh Abu Mohammed Jawad Walieddine, has died

Record ID: 430769

  • Title: LEBANON: The highest spiritual authority for the Druze community in the Middle East, Sheikh Abu Mohammed Jawad Walieddine, has died
  • Date: 28th April 2012
  • Summary: BAAQLINE, LEBANON (APRIL 27, 2012) (REUTERS) BAAQLINE VILLAGE AND DRUZE WOMEN WALKING TO SHEIKH ABU MOHAMMED WALIEDDINE'S HOUSE DRUZE CLERICS WALKING TO THE HOUSE TO PAY RESPECT VARIOUS OF DRUZE CLERICS GATHERING VARIOUS OF WALIEDDINE'S BODY IN SEE-THROUGH GLASS COFFIN DRUZE CLERIC CRYING MORE OF CLERICS CRYING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LEBANESE DRUZE CLERIC GHANDI MAKA
  • Embargoed: 13th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Lebanon, Lebanon
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Topics: Obituaries,People,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA9HPKZIRMYOAMA3ID0HH0CA7PH
  • Story Text: The highest spiritual authority for the Druze community in the Middle East, Sheikh Abu Mohammed Jawad Walieddine, died on Friday (April 27) in his village in Lebanon's Chouf mountains, where a large Lebanese Druze community lives.
    Lebanon state news agency said that Walieddine died early on Friday in the village of Baaqline, 45 km southeast of Beirut, at the age of 96.
    Walieddine was highly respected in the region.
    "There is no doubt that the death of our Sheikh Abu Mohammed Jawad Walieddine is a painful loss for Druze all over the world, in Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan and Syria. Sheikh Abu Mohammed Jawad is a pillar for the Druze community and Lebanese unity," said Druze Cleric Ghandi Makarem.
    Druze Sheikh Sami Abil Mouna Added that Walieddine was known for his courage and bravery.
    Walieddine was born in 1916 in Baaqline where he lived his entire life. He did not have a political role but was a highly-regarded religious authority for the Druze.
    Walieddine's body was put in a glass coffin in his house where mourners gathered to pay respects.
    The Druze are an offshoot of Islam, comprising less than 10 per cent of Lebanon's population, around 110,000 population living in Israel and 450,000 population living in Syria.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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