1. Michel Samaha is a former minister of information and minister of tourism in Lebanon, and a longtime politician and intelligence operative.
15 Facts About Michel Samaha
1. 2.
Michel Samaha was sentenced again to 13 years with hard labour in April 2016 for attempting to carry out terrorist acts.
3.
Michel Samaha became a member of the Phalangist or Kataeb Party in 1964 when he was a student.
4.
Michel Samaha was elected head of the party's student body in the 1970s.
5.
Michel Samaha served as an advisor and envoy to Amine Gemayel during the latter's presidency from 1982 to 1988.
6.
Michel Samaha agreed to support the 1985 tripartite agreement between the LF represented by Hobeika, Nabih Berri's Amal Movement, and Walid Jumblatt's Progressive Socialist Party on the eve of its signing.
7.
Michel Samaha was the advisor and close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the Assad family since the time of late President Hafez al-Assad.
8.
Michel Samaha served as the advisor of Bashar al-Assad in regard to his public relations in Europe.
9.
Michel Samaha had close ties with the French, Canadian, and US governments and assumed secret diplomatic and security roles.
10.
When his close friend Elias Hrawi became president whose term lasted from 1989 to 1998, Michel Samaha was made by him the information minister in 1992, then tourism minister for six months, then information minister again from 1992 to 1995.
11.
Michel Samaha won the Catholic parliamentary seat in North Metn in 1992 after the Taif agreement became effective.
12.
Michel Samaha was arrested on 9 August 2012 for his alleged involvement in transporting explosives into Lebanon, with the help of the Syrian Security Chief Ali Mamlouk, to carry out terrorist attacks in order to incite sectarian strife and destabilize the country.
13.
Najib Mikati, the Lebanese Prime Minister, stated in September 2012 that Michel Samaha admitted his involvement of plotting terror attacks in Lebanon.
14.
Michel Samaha is a Melkite Catholic, and holds dual citizenship, both Lebanese and Canadian.
15.
Michel Samaha is married to Gladys Samaha and has three daughters.