Praying for Basil

This site was originally for the family and friends of Basil Fuleihan to keep them updated on his condition following the bombing of former Prime Minister Hariri's convoy, in which Basil was riding.

Basil died from his injuries on 18 April 2005 after battling for his life for 64 days at the Percy military  hospital in Paris.

You are welcome to leave your comments of support and condolence for Basil's family by using the 'Comments' link at the bottom of every post, where you can also read all the comments associated with that post. (The comments on the left side of this page are only the 10 most recent).

Vigils & Services

The outpouring of emotion and concern by friends, former colleagues, acquaintances and even people who have never met Basil has been monumental, and says all one needs to know about the friendship, humanity and loyalty he has shown people throughout his life.

[If you would like us to post information about a memorial service or vigil you are holding anywhere in the world, or think that any of the information posted here is wrong, please let us know by  sending an email here]

18 April 2005

Basil passed away this morning in Paris. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

New York Service

“On April 12th, 60 of Basil’s colleagues and friends gathered in New York at the Riverside Church near Columbia University to pray for strength and courage for Basil. The service was arranged and presided over by Rev. James Fitzgerald, the Riverside Church Minister for Social Peace and Justice. He spoke movingly about how Basil and his work are what stand between ‘the rest of us’ and ‘the forces of evil’.

All of Basil’s contemporaries from the Economics department at Columbia University attended, as did Dean Pinkerton of the Graduate School for Arts and Sciences. Some of the attendees traveled from Hong Kong and Washington, D.C.

Basil’s dissertation adviser at Columbia, Prof. Ronald Findlay, spoke about Basil’s keen intellect and ability to implement policy. He spoke about the positive influence Basil’s policies have had in Lebanon and about how they may serve as a model for the Middle East.

Rabih Khoury, the President of the New York Chapter for AUB Alumni spoke, as did his friend Stacia Hachem. All of those attending were grateful for the shared prayers for Basil and spoke of the need to continue to gather together to pray for him. It was good to have each other’s support and offer more to Yasma and Basil.”

7 April 2005

Basil is still in a critical condition at Percy, and remains deeply and continuously sedated. He also remains on artificial life support.

6 April 2005 - Schneller Institute

"A vigil and candlelight procession for Dr Basil’s recovery and to support his family was held at the chapel of Johann Ludwig Schneller Institute, Khirbat Qanafar, West Beqaa, Lebanon on Monday, April 4th, 2005 at 07.00 pm.

Our beloved Basil, Yasma, and Basil's mother are close friends and partners in supporting the humanitarian and social work of Johann Ludwig Schneller Institute. Hundreds of children, staff, friends, and people from Schneller and surrounding towns and villages prayed earnestly for Basil's recovery and for his wife, children, and mother. A group of friends and pastors from Germany joined us for this occasion, singing appropriate hymns and praying with us."

On behalf of children, staff, and faculty of Schneller Institute, Revd Dr Riad Kassis Chaplain and Executive Director.

More pictures here.

20 March Candlelight Procession

On the evening of Sunday 20 March, several thousand people carrying lit candles walked from Parliament Square to the Phoenicia Hotel to show their solidarity with Basil and to pray for his recovery. Auntie Rida walked at the head of the procession. Occasionally, the national anthem gradually and softly rose from the ranks, and was then picked up and repeated by other parts of the crowd. Otherwise, people were quiet and meditative. (More pictures here).

16 March 2005

Basil's condition at the Percy Hospital is critical and serious, and he remains on artificial life support.

Yasma has asked Basil's friends and supporters to walk in silence from Parliament Square to the site of the explosion this coming Sunday. Let's show our support for Basil and his family by partcipating in the march and spreading the word about it.

14 March 2005

Basil remains hospitalised in Paris and his condition remains the same. Because the road to recovery will be long and progress slow, we will only update his health on the site when there are substantial changes to report.

2 March 2005

Basil remains in a stable condition. We will be posting updates weekly unless there are any major changes.

28 February 2005

Here are a couple of pictures and an account of the service dedicated to Basil's recovery that was held in Washington, DC, on the 24th. You can also read the remarks made at the service by clicking here.

"On February 24 more than one hundred of Basil Fuleihan’s friends braved the heavy snow and gathered in St Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, DC, to express their love and respect for Basil and pray for his recovery. Among those present were members of Basil’s extended family as well as friends, former colleagues, and other senior officials from the World Bank and IMF, where Basil served before returning to Lebanon in 1993. In addition to Lebanese friends, the nationality list of those present covered the four corners of the globe and included the US, UK, France, Italy Spain Switzerland, Peru, Egypt, Jordan, among others.

With a Fairuz hymn playing in the background, Monsignor Jameson talked about love, kindness and the virtue of giving, which Basil represented and lived by. It was a simple service yet a very profound one, where feelings of deep sadness, and hope of Basil’s recovery, bonded all those present, friends and strangers alike. Prayers were also raised for the spirit of Former President of the Council of Ministers Rafic El Hariri and his friends, who fell on February 14.  

The service finished with a word from former Ambassador Mohamed Chatah. He spoke of Basil’s love of Lebanon and his return to serving it 12 years ago. He expressed hope that the awful crime committed against the Lebanese people ten days ago will help turn Lebanon into the nation that Basil and Prime Minister Hariri have always wanted and struggled for. He also echoed everyone’s heartfelt wish that in the future Basil will be able to offer Valentine’s Day flowers to Yasma as he was intending to do on that terrible afternoon of February 14th. "

27 February 2005

Services were held today in solidarity with Basil and his family at Dubai's St Mary's Church and at the Evangelical Church in Ain Zhalta.

"The service in Ain Zhalta’s Evangelical Church was delivered against the setting of an idyllic Lebanese village. The crowd overflowed the church’s courtyard into the village’s main square. In that day Ain Zhalta became one big church fluttering in white and red under a clear blue sky".

26 February 2005

A good part of the Lebanese community in London came together at St Columba's Church in Knightsbridge to thank God for Basil's survival and to pray for his recovery. The service was led with humanity and dignity by the Rev. Nabil Shehadi, with readings from friends of Basil. The Reverend also led prayers for  former Prime Minister Hariri and others who died in the explosion, for the injured and bereaved, as well as for Lebanon.

   

24 February 2005

Washington DC

"A most moving service was held at St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington DC. Many of Basil's friends and colleagues from the IMF/World Bank were there. Dr. Chatah spoke beautifully of Basil, mentioning his professionalism and the friendships he forged with everyone he met".

Texas

This was sent from  Rita Stephan: "At least one thousand members of Shoreline Christian Center in Austin, Texas held a prayer for Basil upon the request of his classmate, Camille Stephan".

23 February 2005

Basil continues to be in a stable condition.

A prayer service will be held for Basil at St Columba's church on Pont Street in London this coming Saturday at 11 AM.

22 February 2005

Basil remains stable and his condition unchanged one week after the incident. The support people are showing through comments on this site and at vigils and services around the world are a great comfort to everyone.

Beirut

People attending the prayer service for Basil at the Protestant church in downtown Beirut overflowed into the courtyard tonight. The service was followed by a vigil at the Gibran Khalil Gibran memorial garden.

One of the attendees wrote this about the service:

"The service at our Church for the recovery of Basil was, to say the least, dignified, solemn, and impressive. The Church was filled to overflowing, with a large crowd remaining outside, not even finding standing room inside. The selection of readings and prayers were very well-chosen. Rev. Badr led the Service, and was assisted by eight Reverends, each of whom read a passage or offered a prayer.

The march from the Church down to the gardens of the Jubran memorial, followed by the placing of the lighted candles, was also done in a very dignified manner.

Prayers were made for the recovery of Basil, for the late Hariri and those who died with him, for Peace, and for Lebanon".

20 February 2005

Paris
Basil's condition remains critical and stable. Under the circumstances, this is probably all we can hope for at this stage and we pray that he continues to be as resilient as he has been this past week.

Yasma, auntie Rida and Ramsay have been touched by the number of people who have come to Paris to support them -- so many that the hospital didn't know what hit them. The hospital has now severely restricted the number of visitors allowed in. Many of you have been considering coming to Paris to stand by their side, but given the restrictions at the hospital it is unlikely that you will be granted access.

Beirut
A service was held at the Wardiyeh church in Ras Beirut today in memory of PM Hariri and to pray for Basil's well-being. This is from someone who attended the service:

The church was full to the rafters with additional seats in the passageways and people standing inside and out.The young priest gave an inspiring sermon revolving around Faith, Hope and Love. Both readings, from the epistles (St.Paul to the Romans) and the Gospel, seemed to have been written for us especially today in Lebanon. They convey the peace and trust which we all need as we pray for Basil and his family.

18 February 2005

Basil remains in a critical but stable condition at the burn center in Paris where he is being treated. His doctors are monitoring his condition and hoping for some improvement over the weekend, in which case a surgical intervention might be possible.

17 February 2005

Dr. Hani Mansour, a leading burns specialist based in the US, came to the hospital to supplement the care and advice being provided by the staff here. The Rev Habib Badr also arrived from Beirut to be by the family's side, and conducted a very moving prayer service. He read from the 23rd Psalm, and gave much comfort and perspective to all those who were there.

Friends and colleagues from all over the world have been calling continuously to inquire about Basil's condition, to convey their feelings of shock and to wish him the best with his recovery.

14-15 February 2005

While traveling back from a working session in parliament on Valentine's Day 2005, the convoy of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri was obliterated by a roadside bomb. Basil Fuleihan, former Minister of Economy and Trade and great friend to so many people, was with the former PM in his car. The explosion killed Mr. Hariri and several others, and wounded several dozen people. Basil miraculously survived the blast but was very badly injured, with burns to over 90% of his body.

He was taken to the American University Hospital where he received emergency treatment, and was later flown to a specialist burn unit in Paris. A team of doctors there worked to stabilize his condition and provide ongoing care for him. Basil's wife, mother and brother have been at his side since his arrival.

Basil's condition is critical.