60+ Years Of Lebanon’s Information Archives Had been Simply Stolen & This is What We Know

Unknown assailants broke into the places of work of Lebanon’s state-run Nationwide Information Company, stealing servers containing archives courting again to 1961, in response to an announcement from caretaker Info Minister Ziad Makari.

The archives, which contained pictures, occasions, and materials of nice historic worth, are situated in a constructing that homes two ministries, adjoining to the heavily-guarded Inside Ministry which is in command of safety within the nation.

The theft occurred in a tightly secured space.

The Info Ministry staff found the break-in once they noticed the door to the archive room under floor degree open and its lock damaged.

The thieves additionally stole 5 computer systems.

Makari later tweeted that solely a small a part of the archives was stolen, and the primary database continues to be accessible.

“The repercussions of the theft are each ethical and materials,” he tweeted. “Work is underway, and we won’t cease till we uncover the perpetrators and punish them.”

For years, Lebanon has struggled to fund and preserve its state media businesses and archives. In 2022, France and Lebanon signed an settlement to digitize its archives as a part of wider efforts to protect Lebanese heritage and historical past.

Laure Sleiman, director of the company between 2009 and 2019 who led the archival course of informed The Related Press “I belief within the work of the intelligence department, however it would all depend upon who stole it and if politics will intervene within the investigation because it at all times does.”

The Info Ministry is presently investigating the theft and is working to apprehend the perpetrators.

See additionally

Destroying archives of and attacking media retailers was a typical observe of the Assad regime throughout the Syrian occupation of Lebanon and is a typical observe by occupational forces to erase or revise historical past.

Lebanon has gaps of tons of of years in its historical past because of the prevention of record-keeping by Lebanese for hundreds of years beneath Ottoman rule.

This newest theft is a stark reminder of the challenges Lebanon faces in preserving its historical past and heritage within the midst of a crippling financial disaster.

The Info Ministry’s investigation and efforts to uncover and punish the perpetrators are important in making certain that the stolen archives are returned and justice is served.



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