Protocolo 36 - page 56

Líbano
/
Lebanon
Como miles de familias, por lo menos las más pudientes, los Fakih
abandonaron Líbano huyendo de la guerra civil cuando Rima era una
bebé y se instalaron en Nueva York. En 2003, por razones de nego-
cios, se mudaron a Michigan donde son muy respetados y queridos
por la importante comunidad árabe de la zona.
Cuando la prensa le ha preguntado por la religión que profesa, Rima
ha sido muy cauta y en un tono diplomático ha señalado que su fa-
milia navega por las aguas del cristianismo y el islamismo, y que ella
estudió en una escuela católica.
Quizás algunos de los familiares de Rima Fakih sean simpatizantes
de Hezbollah, pero ello es común en Líbano, donde es un actor prin-
cipal en la vida política del país. Lo que sí se podría dudar, es algún
tipo de apoyo del grupo a la candidatura de la joven Miss USA.
Conocidos por su visión integrista y radical del islam, Hezbollah ve
como una ofensa a Alá la exhibición descarada de la mujer, a la que
prefieren ver ataviada con el velo islámico de los pies a la cabeza.
Miss Estados Unidos es diplomada en economía, le encantan el
kickboxing y el futbol, y tiene previsto titularse en derecho al final de
su reinado. Rima Fakih viaja, por lo menos, una vez al año a Líbano
para visitar a sus parientes y mantener contacto con la cultura de
sus antepasados.
Fuente: Sergio Paz / Grupo Generación
But, worst of all were the accusations and disqualifications due to her
Lebanese Arab origin and her alleged links with the terrorist group Hezbol-
lah. Debbie Schlussel, a lawyer and critic went so far as to say that Rima
was a supporter that organization and in favor of women’s subjugation.
From Lebanon, Rima's sister, Rana Fakih, vehemently denied that
Hezbollah has financed the new Miss USA’s career. In an interview
with the Spanish news agency EFE, she said Rima is a “very hard-
working, cheerful and enthusiastic woman”.
The allegations published by some of the media are based on the fact
that the Fakih family is from the village of Srifa, located 85 kilome-
ters south of Beirut, in the region of Tyre, a badly beaten place by the
Israeli military invasions carried out against terrorist operations in
the late seventies and in 2006.
Like thousands of families, at least the most prosperous, the Fakih left
Lebanon to escape the civil war when Rima was a baby and settled in
New York. In 2003, for business reasons, they moved to Michigan
where they are highly respected and loved by the important Arab
community in the area.
When questioned by the press about her religious beliefs, Rima has
been very cautious and in a diplomatic tone has explained that her
family “sails in the waters” of Christianity and Islam, but that she
studied in a Catholic school.
Perhaps some of the families of Rima Fakih are supporters of Hezbol-
lah, but this is very common in Lebanon, where this organization is in
fact a major player in the country's political life. A doubt that could
certainly be raised is if the group gave some kind of support to the
young Miss USA.
Known for their radical and fundamentalist Islam beliefs, Hezbollah
considers the blatant display of women as affront to Allah, and they
rather favor having women wearing the Islamic veil which covers them
from head to toes.
The new Miss USA is a graduate in economics; she loves kickboxing and
soccer and plans to graduate in law at the end of her reign. Rima Fakih
will travel to Lebanon, at least once a year, to visit her relatives and
maintain contact with the culture of her ancestors.
Source: Sergio Paz/ Grupo Generación
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