Lina Murr Nehme

Lina Murr Nehme
Born	(1955-07-12) July 12, 1955
Occupation	Author, Historian, University Professor

Lina Murr Nehme (born 1955) is a French-Lebanese historian and expert on Islam, Middle Eastern affairs and global terrorism. She is a professor at the Lebanese University.^[1]

Biography

Lina Murr Nehme was born in 1955 in Lebanon, and graduated from Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, in 1982. She is the daughter of May and Alfred Murr (also historical authors). She is an historian and an expert on Islam, Middle Eastern affairs and global terrorism. Lina Murr Nehme is also a professor (at the Lebanese University) and a painter. She has exhibited some of her paintings in the USA, Lebanon and also in France.^[1]

Positions

Defence of Cultural Heritage

In 2012, Lina Murr Nehme took action to defend archeological sites in Beirut scheduled for destruction.^[2] After an initial phase of political lobbying, including meeting with the Minister of Culture, she organized a demonstration on 21 April 2012 centered on the situation of Plot 1474, which contains archaeological remains. In statements to the press, she asserted that the profits of private corporations should take second place to the preservation of cultural heritage. ^[3][4]

Hostages

She has also taken stands on the issue of war hostages from the Lebanese War, noting that many families are still in uncertainty about the fate of a loved one. She demands that any hostage still alive be freed, and that information be released on those that are dead.^[5] She also took position publicly for the full investigation of a purported mass grave discovered in Chebaniyeh, Lebanon.^[6] This followed a 2008 mass graves scandal that started with the publication of an article by journalist Manal Chaaya revealing the location of a purported mass grave at Halate, Lebanon.^[5][7]

Right to Privacy

In 2011, she took a stand on the right to privacy, noting how significant quantities of data on Lebanese citizense were being collected by the government, and in some cases leaked to external parties.^[8]

Research Interests

Archeology

Lina Murr Nehme has done research on the archeology of Baalbek. She has also researched how the origin of financing of previous archeological missions has biased the research conclusions.^[9]

Renaissance

She has done research on the Renaissance, particularly focusing on how artists were financed in order to spread ideas that served the political ends of backers.^[10]

Orthodox Schism

She has also researched the evolution of the Orthodox Schism. In particular, she studied the Council of Florence, in which the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church announced a union (which fell apart when Constantinople fell to the Turks). She concludes that the Council of Florence is valid from the Orthodox Christian perspective, and that the Orthodox achieved all of their theological objectives:

In the Council of Florence, the Orthodox refused to add the Filioque to the Creed, refused to modify saint Basil’s liturgy, refused to use unleavened bread for the liturgy, refused to authorize the Pope to appoint the Patriarch of Constantinople, refused even to allow the Patriarch’s election to be held outside of Constantinople. Moreover, they did not make one single dogmatic renunciation: they united themselves with the Latins only after the Latins had conceded that the Holy spirit has a single principle, the Father. However they did abandon pride in Florence, by accepting the Pope’s primacy. But they were far from doing that because they were subjected to pressure. they were, in fact, subjected to an opposite pressure, since the Pope was at the time in a position of extreme weakness. Italian armies were waging war on him in the field, and a Republic had been proclaimed in Rome. He was a refugee in Florence, and the rich Italian merchants despised him. At the same time, the King of France was waging a theological war against him through the Council of Basel. the aim of this war was the final destruction of Papal power.^[11]

List of works

Baalbek la Phénicienne

Baalbek la Phénicienne

Baalbek, Monument Phenician is a historical book first written in 1997. It researches and discusses the origins of the Baalbek monument and concludes that it can only be Phoenician (and not Roman). It was initially written in French but the author has since created an English version called Phoenician Baalbek. The Arabic version is titled Baalbak al-Finiqiyyat and the French version is Baalbek la Phénicienne. ISBN 2-7554-0003-X.^[9]

Barbara de Baalbek

Barbara de Baalbek is a French historical novel set in Baalbek, Lebanon. It follows the life of Christian martyr Barbara (935 AD) and her misfortunes after being condemned to death for her religion and for refusing her fathers chosen husband. Publishers Aleph et Taw - 2000 ISBN 978-2-9515213-3-9

1453, Mahomet II impose le Schisme Orthodoxe

1453, Mahomet II impose le Schisme Orthodoxe

1453, Mahomet II impose le Schisme Orthodoxe is a French book written in 2003 (ISBN 2-86839-816-2). The English version is 1453: Muhammad II imposes the Orthodox Schism (ISBN 2-9515213-5-9) which argues that the East–West Orthodox Schism is illegal and that accounts of the Fourth Crusade are wrong.

La Douloureuse Passion de Jésus-Christ

La Douloureuse Passion de Jésus-Christ

The book on which movie "The Passion" is based. La Douloureuse Passion de Jésus-Christ is a French book by Clemens Brentano, transcribing the visions of German mystic Anne-Catherine Emmerick, who saw many scenes of Jesus Christ's Life. It contains historical notes by Lina Murr Nehme. It is written from the point of view of Jews of that era. ISBN 2-9515213-7-5.^[12]

Le Liban assassiné, lettre ouverte à Monsieur Sarkozy

Le Liban assassiné, lettre ouverte à Monsieur Sarkozy

Roughly translated as "Lebanon Murdered: Open letter to Mr. Sarkozy", Le Liban assassiné, lettre ouverte à Monsieur Sarkozy is a French book written in 2008. It discusses the economic, political, religious and social problems of Lebanon as a rare middle eastern democracy, including the Lebanese war and various other issues. Publishers: Aleph Et Taw (April-13-2008) ISBN 978-2-9515213-8-4

Les otages libanais dans les prisons syriennes, jusqu'à quand?

Les Otages Libanais dans les Prisons Syriennes

Written in French, Les Otages Libanais dans les Prisons Syriennes is a book about Lebanese Hostages in Syrian prisons and was published in 2008. Among a multitude of documents, it features a letter by award winning Syrian journalist Nizar Nayyouf that talks about the disappearance of over 38,000 prisoners of the Lebanese war at prisons like Palmyra, and calls for help from the U.N. to investigate. Publishers - Aleph Et Taw (August-15-2008) ISBN 978-2-9515213-9-1

Du Règne de la Pègre au reveil du Lion, lettre ouverte a Monsieur Sarkozy

Roughly translated as "From the reign of the mob to the rise of the Lion: Open letter to Mr Sarkozy", "Du Règne de la Pègre au reveil du Lion, lettre ouverte a Monsieur Sarkozy" is a book about Lebanese events and the Lebanese war, written in French and Arabic.

Si Beyrouth Parlait Bayrut in hakat

Si Beyrouth Parlait

Historical narrative. (Title translates to "If Beirut could speak, what would she tell us?") Describing Beirut through the ages, it also contains a message of hope to Lebanese youth. The author challenges that there is still greatness in Lebanon despite the past war and its toll on the Lebanese people. Published in 2011, the book is available in both French and Arabic.

La Renaissance en Question 1-2

A historical narrative telling the story of the Renaissance. The first part of this series is Des origines à Léonard de Vinci, Volume 1 and deals with how the Renaissance began, and describes its evolution until the time of Leonardo da Vinci. The second part, De Michel-Ange à nos jours: le Retour des Idoles takes up the plot at the time of Michel Angelo, and closes by describing how the fruits of the Renaissance have impacted us today.

Prophéties de la Bible pour Le Liban Moderne

Prophéties de la Bible pour Le Liban Moderne is a historical book written after 12 years of Bible study by the author and is presented in multiple parts, the book is available in both French or Arabic. The First part covers Habacuc and Obadiah and was published in 2000.

References