Lebanese priest’s murder sparks sectarian outrage, calls to deport Syrians

The murder of Catholic priest Samir Daou, allegedly by a Syrian worker he hired for the olive harvest, has sparked sectarian outrage in Lebanon and calls for the deportation of Syrians. Daou was stabbed more than 20 times in his home in Ain Jrein. The Daou family condemned the killing. Lebanese media and social media users have demanded government action.

The brutal murder of Catholic priest Samir Daou, allegedly by a Syrian worker he hired for the olive harvest, has sparked sectarian outrage in Lebanon and renewed calls for the deportation of Syrians from the country. Daou was stabbed more than 20 times in his home in the town of Ain Jrein in the Jbeil District of Mount Lebanon, and his personal possessions were stolen. The Daou family condemned the killing as a 'heinous crime' and described Daou as a man who 'dedicated his life to serving others.' Since the murder, Lebanon's Christian community has called for government action against Syrians living in the country. An op-ed in the Arabic An-Nahar newspaper argued that crimes by Syrians can no longer be treated as isolated incidents and called for an organized return policy. Social media users, including journalist Nancy Lakkis and singer Elissa, have echoed these demands, with Lakkis calling for 'comprehensive deportation' and Elissa stating that 'speeding up the return of the displaced Syrians to their country has become an absolute necessity.' Some have questioned whether the killing was connected to ISIS.