Two days ago, Tripoli got hit with death yet again as a terrorist attack took place in its Jabal Mohsen neighborhood.
The politics and intricacies of the attack are many, but there is one story of heroism springing out of the horror that took place on Saturday that no one is talking about. I figured I will, because this particular story about these kinds of people are the ones that make you see that faint silver lining in all the mayhem.
Many have wondered how come a café as crowded as the one attacked in Jabal Mohsen only amounted to less than 10 casualties. That’s because the suicide bombing attack didn’t go according to the two terrorists’ plans.
Among those was a brave, courageous, heroic man called Abou Ali Issa. He was a father of seven. When the first suicide bomber detonated himself, people started gathering at the site. Abou Ali Issa who wasn’t even at the café at the time rushed to the site to see what was happening. It was then that he saw the second suicide bomber approaching the premises to detonate himself and kill much more people than the first one did. The bomber shouted “Allahou Akbar.” Abou Ali Issa rushed at him and tackled him, preventing the bomber from reaching the café, killing the people inside. The bomber then detonated himself, killing them both.
He didn’t care about the sects of those in the cafe. He didn’t care if he was saving the lives of Sunnis, Shia, Alawites or Christians. Abou Ali Issa did not care about his own life as he was faced with a choice most of us would never face: save others or save yourself. He chose the former.
This is Ali Issa’s face. It deserves to become imprinted in our collective memory as a nation.
This man who saved hundreds of life will never become a viral sensation. His funeral was broadcast yesterday, along with that of the 7 other people that died with him, on a split-screen on Lebanese TVs, not even worthy of full screen treatment.
In a few days from now, no one will remember that there were two suicide bombers in Tripoli who targeted innocents, let alone the existence of a man who prevented those terrorists from doing so much more harm hadn’t he sacrificed his own life to save everyone else.
Today, there are hundreds of families in Tripoli and Jabal Mohsen who owe their wholeness to Abou Ali Issa. They owe him the presence of their fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters. They owe him the sheer relief they felt when their loved ones came back home that day.
Abou Ali Issa’s family, his wife and seven children, did not get that same sense of relief and happiness. Their family will never be whole again, and justice for their father and husband will probably never come.
This is my attempt to make the memory of their father and husband that of a national hero, as it should be, as he is the kind of people who deserve to be paraded around as national symbols, as household names who should never be forgotten, because people like him are rare to come by and they should always be cherished and honored and respected.
May he rest in peace. There are fewer people deserving of such peace.
Much Respect to this Man and to you for writing this article. May his kind Soul rest in peace
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Writing this article was the least I can do. May he rest in peace.
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Reblogged this on Kleiteria and commented:
Here’s a story that never happened in the press or political speeches… but it happened in reality:
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Thank you for your account of this brave, brave man’s sacrifice for his fellow citizens.
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Writing this was the least I can do.
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All the Lebanese should say “we are Abou Ali Issa” instead of Charlie….
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Why not say both?
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Much respect to Abu Ali Issa. There aren’t many heroes like him anywhere these days. On the contrary, our roads are filled with terrorists, murderous thugs and thieves. Very few decent beings left. May he rest in peace.
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. YOU ARE A NATIONAL HERO.
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I hope he had many children so his way can pass on to the next generation. God knows there is not enough of such steel left.
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Reblogged this on a testament of sentience and commented:
A man sacrifices himself to protect a crowded cafe in Tripoli, Lebanon.
Suffice to say, this man’s quick and good-natured thinking make him a clear example of human excellence, and of the greatness that we all posses within ourselves.
It is a touching story in his memory, to his honor.
Enjoy,
– J
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Reblogged this on Ned Hamson Second Line View of the News.
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Pingback: Abou Ali Issa: The Lebanese Hero Of The Tripoli Explosions | A Separate State of Mind | A Lebanese Blog | Ned Hamson Second Line View of the News
may god rest his soul in peace. this man wasn’t even in the cafe he was at home after he heard the first bomb he run down to help the wounded and then saw the second bomber and sacrificed his life. may god bless his soul.
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May his action be praised for those lives he has saved and may he be rememered threw all the years
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as i was watching the news i wondered why the second explosion didnt make alot if damage, well now we know! Article worth sharing 🙂
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“Shames” to the Medias: TV, Magazines, etc. that are not reporting ‘heroic-human-actions’ considered ‘not-shocking’ as ‘news’ like ‘terrorist-actions’ !!!!!!!!
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Pingback: Arab News Blog » Abou Ali Issa: The Lebanese Hero Of The Tripoli Explosions
What a nice and sad story at the same time and its good to know that there are still good people in lebanon. I love u beirut , people should love each other and have peace not war. Rip to the victims may their souls rest in peace
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This brought tears to my eyes. Its well written, and it covered the insight many – if not all – fail to see. Media in Lebanon is ….. I can’t even find the right words to describe it. Such an incident needs to be highlighted so our dearest politicians (I am not going to refer to them as leaders) can maybe, perhaps, learn something about courage, and maybe, perhaps, they MIGHT become worthy of respect and become fit to change a hopeless case – our dear Lebanon. Your articles are very inspiring. Keep them going. May all the victims RIP and God help his family. Allah yerhamo.
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Actually my family in Sydney went to pay their respect at his brothers place. Allah yirhamo rahmen alrahim. His family is very proud of him and the sacrifice he made.
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Thanks,peace,blessings and respect to this great man, his parents,siblings,entire family and friends for his heroism. Words are inadequate to convey my sympathy and solidarity with his family. My family and friends will discuss and keep his memory alive in great respect and honor. Truly an unparralled example of courage, strength,and manliness for the entire world to live by.Good to know there are still immortal heroes still among us! As a father and ex-soldier I humbly salute him ,rest in peace for all eternity.
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