Within Afkar II Program
“12 Angry Lebanese Men” on Roumieh Prison Stage

The curtain of the play “12 Lebanese Angry Men” was raised yesterday on the stage of Roumieh prison. The play, directed by Zeina Daccach and

featuring 40 animates

 is a precedent in Lebanon, in the Arab world and in the Middle East.

This project adopted by ADDL association comes within Afkar II program, funded by EU and managed by OMSAR, and is undertaken with the cooperation of the Ministry of Interior Affairs and Municipalities and the Ministry of Justice and with the financial contribution of Caritas. 


                                       
                                        During the play

The event drew officials and ambassadors of Arab and European countries, namely: Hoda Siniora, the representative of PM Fouad Siniora, the Minister of Interior Affairs, Ziad Baroud, the Minister of Education and Higher Education, Bahia Hariri, the Minister of State for Administrative Reform, Ibrahim Shamseddine, the Attorney General, Judge Saïd Mirza, the President of the State’s Consultative Council, Judge Choukri Sader, the Head of the Judiciary Inspection Body, Antony Issa Khoury, the Supreme Court General Attorney, Jocelyne Tabet, the Judiciary Inspector, Samir Mazloum, Elie Bakhaazi, the General Director of ISF, General Achraf Rifi, the Commander of the Gendarmerie, General Antoine Chakkour, MP Ghassan Mokhayber, the representative of MP Strida Geagea, Ms Fayrouz Abillamah and ambassadors of Arab, African and European countries.  

Among the attendees, the assistant general director of “Annahar”, Ms. Nayla Tueni, the TV presenter, May Chidiac, many media persons from local, Arab and foreign media institutions, legal, religious and military personalities and representatives of the civil society.


                                       
                                         During rehearsals

After an introductory speech by the president of ADDL association, Ms. Mary Ghantous, MP Ghassan Mokhayber took the floor. He praised the efforts that brought to fruition the play and thanked all those who took part in the project. Then, the director of the play welcomed the audience and thanked all those who collaborated throughout a year and a half to realize the project.

The play started with the national anthem, followed by the prisoners’ anthem “My Country, My Love”, lyrics by the prisoner Simon Bounya, and music by the prisoner known as “The Migrant”.  
   
The play is the adaptation of the book of the American writer, Reginald Rose. It is about 12 men, members of the Jury, gathered in inconvenient conditions for consultation, after having heard the circumstances of a first degree murder, committed by a 19-year-old young man, who stabbed his father to death. The verdict of the jury should be brought in unanimously, either to save the defendant from the hangman’s rope in case of conclusive evidence or to sentence him. Intense deliberations went on between the members of the jury throughout three sessions, during which the evidence were discussed and the necessity to prove them. They ended through a vote by deciding to save the young man.

The play included the life story of inmates and 9 songs, including the song “Kanou Rifaki Bayn Wraki”, lyrics by the prisoner Nidal Zaater Piccolo, and music by the prisoner “The Migrant”. The song was dedicated to the sister of late PM Rafic Hariri, MP Bahia Hariri, to the daughter of the martyr Gibran Tueni, Nayla Tueni and to the living martyr, May Chidiac.

Inspired by their daily routine, the inmates conceived a choreography showing how their boredom turns into a hostile energy. They also mentioned law 463/2002 pertaining to the decreasing of penalties, which only includes fraud, swindling, and bad checks, which are offenses, and does not mention the crimes such as murder and drug dealing. This part aroused the laughter of the audience.

At the end of the play, the General Prosecutor, Judge Said Mirza, the Minister of Interior Affairs, Ziad Baroud, and the General Director of ISF, General Achraf Rifi met the heroes of the play and congratulated them for their outstanding performance.

It is worth mentioning that the play will be presented every Saturday during February and March 2009 from 3pm until 5pm.