Ghassan Tueni, a prominent Lebanese journalist, politician, and diplomat, shaped Lebanese media and political life through his newspaper, An-Nahar. Born in 1926, Tueni studied Philosophy at the American University of Beirut and completed an MA in Political Science at Harvard University. Following his father’s death, he became editor-publisher of An-Nahar at the age of 22, transforming it into a leading voice for press freedom, human rights, and moral values.

Tueni’s journalistic career ran parallel with his political involvement. He joined Lebanon’s parliament in 1951, became Speaker of the House from 1953 to 1957, and was part of Lebanon’s UN delegation in 1957. In the 1970s, he held positions as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Information and National Education. His work at the United Nations as Lebanon’s Ambassador was marked by his influence on Resolution 425, calling for Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon and establishing UNIFIL.

Despite being jailed multiple times for his dedication to press freedom, Tueni remained unwavering in his principles. An-Nahar became known as the “guardian of the national conscience” during Lebanon’s civil war. Tragically, Tueni faced personal loss with the deaths of his wife Nadia and three children: daughter Nayla, son Makram, and son Gebran, who was assassinated in 2005. Ghassan Tueni passed away in 2012 at the age of 86, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, integrity, and commitment to Lebanon’s freedom and future.