Fifty years have passed since the Lebanese Civil War, yet we continue to remember the victims, the wounded, and the missing. This commemoration is more than remembrance—it is a call to learn from the past. In this spirit, the Public Relations and Communications Department at Beirut Arab University hosted a photography exhibition by Mr. Saleh Al-Rifai, titled "Fifty Years Since the Civil War – May It Neither Be Remembered Nor Repeated." The title itself carries a message to future generations: the war was not just a chapter in history but a painful lesson from which we must draw wisdom to build a better future.
The exhibition features 32 black and white photographs, with two exceptions in color, symbolizing the war’s end and the dawn of reconstruction. Originally intended to include 50 photographs, the exhibition deliberately excluded images of fighters, bloodshed, and massacres due to their graphic nature.
Taken between 1975 and 1990, the photographs document streets and public squares before their destruction, scenes from the frontlines, and crossings between divided areas, capturing both the devastation and resilience of a nation.
The opening ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, including:
The Minister of National Defense General Michel Mnassa, represented by Brigadier General Ahmad Al-Lababidi; Minister of Culture Dr. Ghassan Salameh, represented by the Director General of the Ministry of Culture Dr. Ali Al-Samad; Mr. Omar Karakallah; President of the Lebanese Syndicate of Press Photographers Mr. Ali Allouch; President of the Lebanese Women's Council Mrs. Adla Siblini, represented by Mrs. Najwa Jamal; CEO of Al Iktissad Wal Aamal Group Mr. Raouf Abou Zaki; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Al Bir wal Ihsan and the University’s Board of Trustees Dr. Ammar Houry; University President Professor Wael Nabil Abdel Salam; along with deans, directors, and a large audience.
The event began with the Lebanese national anthem, followed by the university anthem. Ms. Zina Ariss, Director of Public Relations and Communications, delivered a speech, stating:
War is, without a doubt, a tragic experience. I do not know if it has truly taught us the dangers of division. But what we do know what we are certain of is that wars are brutal, and it is the people who pay the price in blood, loss, and destruction."
She continued: "Let us stand together today and say: no to war, no to division, no to grieving mothers, and no to orphaned children. We stand for a sovereign, free, and independent Lebanon for all its citizens. That is why we declare: 'Fifty years since the civil war—may it neither be remembered nor repeated.'"
University President Professor Wael Nabil Abdel Salam stated in his speech:
"Today, as we mark this anniversary, we open a deeply sorrowful exhibition. These photographs, taken by Dr. Saleh Al-Rifai, Professor of Photographic Arts at the Lebanese University, over fifteen years of turmoil, are living testimonies to war’s horror and devastation. They speak of pain and loss, of courage and resilience, and of a hope that endured despite all odds."
He emphasized: "Now, more than ever, we must uphold tolerance and reconciliation, reject hatred and violence, and work tirelessly for the Lebanon its people dream of a sovereign, free, and united, resilient against division. This moment coincides with the inauguration of a new President, a new Prime Minister, and the dawn of a new era for Lebanon."
Professor Saleh Al-Rifai reflected:
"The Lebanese Civil War left behind countless photographs since its eruption on April 13, 1975 fifteen years of cyclical devastation, further scarred by the 1982 Israeli invasion, which reached from the southern borders to the capital."
He concluded with the words of American photographer Lewis Hine: ‘If I could say it in words, I wouldn’t have to photograph it.’ "A camera reveals what words cannot. In these images, I have poured all the fire that burned within me every time I raised my lens and pressed the shutter."
Following the speeches, attendees toured the exhibition accompanied by music commemorating the war. The exhibition will remain open until April 25, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
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