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Twins who share everything — including their boyfriend

Growing up, twins Victoria and Amanda Hepperle were raised to share everything – toys, clothes and their deepest secrets.

“What’s mine is hers,” has been the guiding principle all their lives, to the delight of their proud parents.

Until now. For the 27-year-old sisters have taken the divvying up to shocking extremes – by sharing the bed of the same boyfriend.

Their exhausted joint lover, Ian Diaz, admits that he feels like “the luckiest man alive”, but adds: “Some men might think sleeping with twins is a dream come true, but it’s not always an easy ride.”

But his two girlfriends can’t ­understand what all the fuss is about.

Victoria says: “We are a threesome now and we don’t find it weird at all, although I wish the same could be said for our parents and friends.

“We have a healthy sex life, even if we have to decide between ourselves who has Ian on any given night.

“Ian knows the closeness of our bond. He understands us and just gets us. I think any guy would want double the attention. People come up to him and say, ‘Wow! You’re so lucky’.”

Victoria and Amanda with Ian

 

Delivery boss Ian, 27, started out as Victoria’s sweetheart, and for four years they had a perfectly normal relationship. But in 2012 Amanda suffered a painful break-up with her then boyfriend which left her devastated.

Seeing her sister alone and unhappy, Victoria hatched a bizarre plan – Ian would become boyfriend to them BOTH. All she had to do was persuade him.

She says: “Ian and I had an undeniable physical attraction and a strong bond. We have a solid relationship built on trust and understanding.

“Ian knows that my relationship with Amanda has always been a huge part of my life and that I would do anything for her. So when she broke up with her boyfriend just over two years ago, I shared her pain and her heartbreak.

“It was devastating to see her so unhappy. It hurt me almost as much as it hurt her. It seemed to me almost natural to invite her to join us in our loving ­relationship.

“Ian was unsure at first, particularly as he knew that his parents wouldn’t be very happy, but now we’re all ­blissfully in love.

“He loves us equally– albeit in quite different ways. He considers me his rock. I am always there to cater for his emotional needs.

“Sometimes I get jealous of the ­relationship he has with Amanda, but I know that he loves me.

“We have spoken about marriage and I’m looking forward to the day when we wed, but if Amanda and Ian get married ­afterwards then that’s fine. The ­important thing is we’re all together, and all happy.”

 

Victoria and Amanda
 

Ian has his own flat in Guttenberg, New Jersey, and the girls, non-identical twins born just 30 minutes apart, live just a few streets away with their appalled parents.

He admits that juggling his ­relationships with the twins can be quite a challenge – but insists that it’s worth all the effort.

“I’m in love with them both the same, although I expect Vicky and I will get married first,” Ian says.

“Victoria and I have a much more traditional relationship. It’s very loving and quite harmonious. I tend to be the dominant one with her.

“But with Amanda, there is no ­question that she wears the trousers. She is ­incredibly feisty and rules the roost.

“In bed it is very sensual with Victoria while with Amanda it’s wanton. They wear me out.

“There are times when I just want to have a few days’ peace. That said, it’s a little like being a multi-millionaire,” he concedes. “Do I ever really have a bad day?”

Well, maybe – when he has to face the parents. Both sides of the family are deeply unhappy about the three-sided arrangement.

 

Victoria and Amanda
 

The twins’ father, David, who raised his girls in the Catholic faith, describes the relationship as being like “a pair of two-year-old shoes still not broken in yet”.

David, along with wife Ingrid, hope that their girls “will see sense” one day and that Amanda will quit the ­relationship leaving Ian and Victoria to have a ­conventional marriage.

But the twins just don’t see that there’s a problem. They admit they argue constantly but insist that the one thing they agree on is their love for Ian.

Amanda says: “One day, I hope that I might find a man of my own but at the moment this is working well for us all.” Right from the start, when Victoria suggested it, Amanda thought it was a great idea.

“I was devastated after my previous relationship ended,” she says. “My self-esteem was on the floor.

“So when Vicky invited me to join her in her relationship with Ian, I felt grateful – and excited.

“My sister and I traditionally have different tastes in men, but I’ve always found Ian attractive, and it was easy falling in love with him. Me and Vicky shared everything growing up. Now we share the same soulmate.”

 

Victoria and Amanda with Ian
 

But Amanda readily agrees that each twin brings something very different to the ­arrangement.

“Vicky and Ian are very much more lovey-dovey together than I am with him.

“My relationship with Ian is a lot more fiery. It’s much more physical and we enjoy each other sexually with great passion.

“Although one of the ground rules is that the three of us never make love at the same time, that’s just not my thing.

“I want to share my life with someone who gives me everything and although Ian is shared with my twin, I feel he gives me that.

“We’re living every day blissfully, and that’s what counts.

“Our relationship might be unusual, but it works for us.”

 

Source: The Daily Mirror

Original Article

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 Sports

Lebanese youngster signs for Manchester City Academy

BEIRUT: Manchester City have signed Abdel-Ghani Ramadan to their famed youth development program the Academy, making the youngster the first Lebanese player to represent a Premier League club, local newspaper Al-Liwaa reported.

The 17-year-old from the coastal town of Barja immigrated to Belgium at a young age before his football talents saw him sign for Greater Manchester side Ashton United.

It was not long before Ramadan’s promising performances for Ashton caught the attention of Manchester City scouts, whose recommendations resulted in him joining the 2012 Premier League champions.

In an interview with Al-Liwaa, Ramadan expressed his delight at signing for a side of City’s caliber while maintaining that he one day hoped to forge a career in the European and international arena.

Ramadan added “it was a dream come true” to join City, attributing his move to hard work and dedication, which he believes could lead to a future role with the senior side.

The Barja native remains eligible to represent the Lebanese national team, an opportunity he relishes and will address once he has finished his studies in England.

The prospect of Ramadan featuring for Lebanon is an enticing one, and he would join a growing contingent of foreign-based players currently in Guissepe Giannini’s squad.

Source: The Daily Star

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 Business

Dubai stocks drop most in month on overdone rally

DUBAI: Dubai’s benchmark stock index fell the most in a month, tracking a decline in global markets last week, on investor concern that this year’s rally was overdone given prospects for earnings growth. Saudi Arabia’s gauge also dropped.

The DFM General Index tumbled 1.7 percent, the most since March 12, to close at 4,759.15 in the emirate. Dubai Islamic Bank PJSC, the United Arab Emirates’ biggest Shariah-compliant bank, declined for a third day. Emaar Properties PJSC, had its steepest drop in a month. Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index fell 1 percent at 2:53 p.m. in Riyadh. Al Rajhi Bank plunged the most in 10 months as first-quarter profit trailed analysts’ estimates.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and the Nasdaq Composite capped their worst week since 2012 on concern valuations had climbed too high as earnings season starts. Technology stocks led emerging market gauges to the biggest drops in three weeks after the U.S. threatened tougher sanctions against Russia over Ukraine. Dubai’s benchmark index trades at a price to estimated earnings ratio of 18.3 compared with 10.2 for the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

“Considering the decline of international equity markets, especially the U.S., last week and the strong rally in the UAE over the past two years, we do expect corrections,” Tariq Qaqish, a fund manager at Al-Mal Capital PSC, said. “Many of the positive catalysts are already priced in.”

Dubai Islamic Bank fell 2.9 percent to 6.31 dirhams. Emaar, which is planning an initial public offering of its malls business, declined 2.9 percent to 10.2 dirhams.

Shuaa Capital PSC, the investment bank controlled by Dubai’s ruler, surged as much as 5.3 percent after making a profit in the first quarter following three years of losses in the period. Gains from lending and investment banking helped the increase in earnings. It later retreated to close 0.6 percent higher at 1.72 dirhams.

Dubai-based Marka, which plans an entry into the UAE’s fashion and restaurant businesses, begins an initial public offering to raise 275 million dirhams ($75 million) Sunday.

Al-Rajhi Bank fell 3 percent to 72.5 riyals. Saudi Arabia’s biggest publicly traded lender said first-quarter net income fell 17 percent to 1.7 billion riyals ($453 million) versus estimates of 2.08 billion riyals, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

In Doha, Qatar National Bank SAQ, the country’s largest lender, dropped 1.7 percent, the most in a month. Petrochemicals maker Industries Qatar fell 1.5 percent, the largest decline in two weeks.

“The market had a good run the past couple of weeks so there is some profit-taking, especially given what is happening in the overall global markets,” Saugata Sarkar, head of research at Qatar National Bank Financial Services, said by phone from Doha Sunday. “Given that we have a MSCI upgrade happening, there is still some upside.”

Markets in Doha and the UAE will be added to the MSCI Emerging Markets Index in May from the frontier gauge.

Benchmarks in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait both lost 0.2 percent while Bahrain fell fell 0.1 percent. Oman advanced 0.2 percent. Qatar’s QE Index declined 1.4 percent.

Israel’s TA-25 Index declined 1 percent with 19 stocks falling. Strauss Group Ltd. shares fell 2 percent. The government may ease restrictions on food imports, Globes reported.

The yield on the government’s benchmark bonds due March 2023 fell two basis points, or 0.02 percentage point, to 3.15 percent.

 
Source: Bloomberg

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 Middle East

Three Al-Manar staff killed in Syria

BEIRUT: Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV station said three of its staff were killed Monday after the television crew came under attack in the Syrian town of Maaloula.

Al-Manar identified the men as reporter Hamzah Hajj Hassan, technician Halim Allaw and cameraman Mohammad Mantash. Several other crew members were wounded, the station said.

With a shaken voice, a teary-eyed anchorwoman announced the death of Hassan and Allaw, saying “takfiri terrorists” killed the men while they were covering the Syrian army takeover of Maaloula, a predominantly Christian town not far from the Lebanese border.

The station also broadcast footage of the bullet-riddled four-wheel drive vehicle that the four men were traveling in when the attack took place.

Offering condolences to their families, Al-Manar described the men as “martyrs of freedom.”

Minutes later, the station announced that Mantash had died of wounds sustained during the attack.

The Hezbollah-affiliated TV channel reported earlier in the day that its four-member crew had come under fire.

“The Al-Manar team was shot at by armed groups when [they] were covering the Syrian army’s takeover of the Maaloula town in Qalamoun,” the report said.

The shooting came hours after Hezbollah-backed Syrian forces recaptured at least three border towns, including Maaloula, in Qalamoun, a mountainous region bordering Lebanon.

Al-Manar television has provided extensive coverage of the battles in the area in recent months, even accompanying and interviewing Syrian soldiers as the country’s army launched an offensive to root out rebel groups.

Source: The Daily Star

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 Middle East

Assad says war has reached turning point in favor of regime

BEIRUT: President Bashar Assad said Sunday that Syria’s three-year conflict was at a “turning point” due to his forces’ military gains against rebels, state media said.

Addressing graduate students and staff of the political science department in Damascus University, Assad spoke of a “turning point in the crisis in Syria in terms of the continuous military achievements … by the army and armed forces in the war against terror and in … terms of national reconciliation,” state news agency SANA reported.

In recent months, government forces, backed by fighters from Lebanon’s Hezbollah, recaptured several rebel-held areas and border towns, closing off rebel supply routes from Lebanon and securing the main highway leading north from Damascus toward central Syria, Homs and the Mediterranean. Several localized truces have been concluded in areas around the capital, a process that the regime refers to as “national reconciliation.”

Assad is preparing to run for a third term in an election expected in July which international powers that back the rebels have described as a “parody of democracy.”

Assad’s comments came as fighting between regime forces and rebels raged in half a dozen provinces throughout the country, with Saturday’s nationwide death toll standing at 275 people, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

On Sunday, opposition activists said at least 20 people were killed when warplanes attacked the Damascus suburb of Douma. A day earlier, rebels and the government blamed each other for an alleged poison gas attack on the village of Kafr Zeita in the province of Hama that they said wounded scores of people.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power told ABC’s “This Week” that the attack was so far “unsubstantiated.”

Syrian warplanes launched an offensive against a string of opposition bastions on the edges of the capital, including the besieged Eastern Ghouta area, the anti-regime Observatory said.

Three children and four men were killed when warplanes carried out two airstrikes against the Damascus suburb of Douma and hit a crowded marketplace, according to the Syrian Revolution General Commission, a network of activists on the ground.

Activists posted video footage of the grisly aftermath.

Also in Douma, two children died of malnutrition and a lack of medical supplies in the besieged town, the Observatory said.

It reported airstrikes against Hammourieh, east of Damascus, and highly destructive barrel bomb attacks on Daraya, an opposition bastion southwest of the capital.

The air raids came as fighting raged on the edges of Daraya between rebels and the army, which for more than a year has battled to secure the capital.

Other airstrikes targeted Mliha, also in eastern Ghouta, while clashes on the town’s edges pitted rebels and their Nusra Front allies against the army and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah, the Observatory said.

Mliha has suffered heavy bombing for 10 consecutive days, as the army and Hezbollah attempt to break through rebel lines.

The Observatory said regime forces Sunday took control of areas on Mliha’s edges after clashes that killed a Hezbollah fighter. North of the capital, the army overran a string of hills overlooking Rankous, a former opposition stronghold in the strategic Qalamoun mountains that fell to the regime last Wednesday, state television reported.

SANA, meanwhile, reported “the death of a young man and the wounding of 22 others” in a mortar attack launched by “terrorists” in Damascus.

State media uses the regime’s term “terrorists” to refer to the rebels.

The attack hit Beirut Street, located near the army command headquarters, and killed two people, the Observatory said.

Mortar bombs struck the regime-held neighborhoods of Bab Touma, Tabbaleh and Barzeh, and the suburb of Jaramana, killing one person each in Tabbaleh and Jaramana, the Observatory added. It also reported, citing activists, the assassination of a senior regime officer in the capital by unknown gunmen. Pro-opposition media outlets identified the man as Lt. Gen. Samir Sheikh, responsible for a reconnaissance department in the armed forces.

In Aleppo, fighting raged around the Air Force intelligence headquarters, which rebels have been trying to seize from regime hands, the Observatory said. It said helicopters pressed the regime’s months-old aerial barrel bomb offensive on Aleppo’s rebel districts, killing two children and a man.

The Observatory said regime troops “targeted” a vehicle in northern Latakia province, killing an unspecified number of jihadists it was carrying, without identifying the type of strike.

In Hama province, regime forces and paramilitary allies seized parts of the village of Morek, the Observatory said. Morek, which was seized last month by rebel groups, lies on the main highway between Hama and Aleppo.

In the east, where militants from the Al-Qaeda splinter group ISIS have been battling the Nusra Front and its local allies, the Observatory said ISIS seized Mwaleh, a village in rural Deir al-Zor province.

The group staged an attack on the town of Al-Bukamal on the Iraqi border last week but were quickly repulsed by local militias and the Nusra Front, and have largely been on the retreat since then.

Source: The Daily Star

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 News

PHOTOS: Bishop Zaidan departs from Detroit after 11-day trip

Bishop Abdullah Elias Zaidan was honored with a dinner at La Saj Lebanese Bistro before departing from Michigan. Bishop Zaidan was in Metro Detroit on an outreach mission to better understand the needs of the Michigan Maronite community.

KEY QUOTES – Bishop A. Elias Zaidan

“I want each one of you to try to get 5 extra names minimum; that’s from a practical point-of-view,” Bishop Zaidan began. “Tell them, we need you to become part of our community, we love you. We’re there to express our love to them. If you want to bring someone to church, love them.”

 

“We always neglect a very important element: prayer. Listen to God’s voice in your life and see what God wants from me, tonight, tomorrow, and every night. I’ll tell you personally, whenever I don’t pray, I feel like my life is not balanced,” Bishop Zaidan continued.

KEY QUOTES – Chorbishop Alfred Badawi

 “Besides our friendship, we are your priests. We are your children and you are our father. You can call us anytime and we’ll be there for you. For the past 11 days, we ate together, we drove together, we prayed together, we spoke together, and we planned for the future, for this beautiful community of the Maronites in Detroit,” Chorbishop Alfred Badawi said.

 

“Your words of wisdom, inspiration, and guidance will always be in our hearts. And I assure you that every word you said to us, it will be fulfilled.”

 

“You’re still next to me and have supported me all the way. For that, I’m thankful.”

Check out the gallery of photographs above.

 

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 Entertainment

BIPOD dance festival kicked off in Beirut

Lebanon gets a taste of the world of the dance world, as Maqamat Dance Theatre kicked off its 10th annual dance event on Thursday, April 10th, 2014.
BIPOD (Beirut International Platform of Dance) was launched in 2004 as the Beirut International Dance Festival, organized by the Maqamat Dance Theater located in Hamra. The event offers dancing performances displayed by artists of different origins, at the same time, workshops, conferences, debates in order to develop new concepts of contemporary dancing. In addition, it will widen their performance scope by exposing them to international work and creating an interactive atmosphere between artists. This year’s line-up includes internationally acclaimed companies from Norway, Belgium, Lebanon, UK, Germany, Morocco, Australia, France and Switzerland.The first event entitled “Still Current” was a night of performances by the Russell Maliphant Company (UK). A combination of solos, duets and trios, the performances displayed choreography inspired by ballet, modern dance and martial arts, with tribal drum music of different rhythm patterns.

The dancers moved deliberately, creating poetry with their bodies, expressing emotions from love to longing, exposing themselves to the audience, letting the music lead their steps. As beautiful as their movements were, the choreography however was repetitive and stifling, as the dancers were sometimes confined to dancing in one particular spot instead of moving throughout the large stage. It felt like they couldn’t exactly break free.

The last performance of the evening was a duet, a love story, showing the flow of a relationship, from meeting to having doubts, to breaking up, to getting back together again. The lighting along with the music and choreography all came together quite beautifully to create a piece of art.

Overall, the night was a successful one, and a great start to BIPOD 2014.

 

Source: iLoubnan

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 Lifestyle, Tourism

10 things to do in Beirut for less than $10

Being adventurous can be pretty pricey sometimes. Wouldn’t it be nice to have fun without straying outside the borders of your budget? Here are a few things you might enjoy doing that won’t cost you much.
1. Rent a bike from Beirut by Bike for as little as 5,000 L.L. You get it for an entire hourwhich is just enough time to reach Beirut Waterfront and enjoy the wonderful sights the city has to offer without getting too exhausted.
2. Round up a few friends and challenge each other to a bowling match at Score Bowling in Hamra. It’s exactly $10 dollars but the look on your opponent’s face when you win, is priceless.

3. Check out Café Em Nazih in Mar Mikhail. It’s an oriental, self-service resto/pub with delicious Lebanese food and inexpensive drinks. Plus there’s good music.

4. In the mood for some Lebanese ice-cream? My favorite is Bachir’s (photo). Just order the small cone with mixed flavors. Its colorful, mouth-watering, filling, and still under $2. Don’t worry if you can’t find it. There’s one on almost every other street.

5. You have to be really hungry for this one. Go to Zokak el Blat. There’s a tiny place called Snack Hammoudi. They have a variety of different sandwiches and platters to choose from. My personal favorite is the escalope burger. It’s extremely filling and it costs about 5,000 L.L. You won’t regret it, just don’t forget to hit the gym later on.

6. Take a walk around Hamra and nearby streets. If you’re even the least bit artistic, you’ll enjoy the graffiti. Some of it is colorful, some of it is influential, and some of it can be depressing. However, the best part about this one is you get a little exercise and it’s free!

7. If you’re into history and ancient artifacts, the National Museum is the place for you.The tickets aren’t more than a few dollars and the museum isn’t too large so you won’t get bored easily.

8. Walk through the streets of Gemayzeh. The buildings are beautiful and if you’re there during happy hour you can stop in for a quick drink that won’t exceed your budget.

9. Have you ever tried hookah? They’re usually less than $10 at most cafes and they allow you to relax and not feel like you’ve outstayed your welcome without ordering food. It’s a perfect opportunity to gossip and catch up with friends. However, it’s officially bad for your health!

10. Take a walk through the Sunday flee market at Jisr el Wate. Prices may range but even if you don’t buy anything, you get to experience some of the cultural diversity that Lebanon has to offer.

 

Source: iLoubnan

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 Sports

Nejmeh remain top of the league despite drawing 1-1 with rivals Ahed

BEIRUT: Nejmeh remained at the top of the standings despite their 1-1 draw against fellow title rivals Ahed Sunday during round 18 of the Lebanese Football league at Cite Sportive Sunday.

Prior to the match, Nejmeh had registered seven consecutive victories under German head coach Theo Bucker to move from fourth place at the end of the first leg to first, with five rounds remaining.

Ahed’s game was one of a four-match swing that will potentially decide the winners of the league, as Nejmeh will face Safa, Ansar and Racing in the final three rounds.

Veteran midfielder Abbas Atwi’s penalty gave the home side the lead on 27 minutes after Ahed defender Hussein Ayoub handled inside the area. Ahed equalized through Ali al-Atat in the 79th minute, before Nejmeh were reduced to 10 men when Syrian defender Abdel-Nasr Hasan was shown red for bringing Tarek al-Ali down four minutes from the end.

Nejmeh are now first with 36 points, three points ahead of Racing, who squandered two vital points after being held to a 1-1 draw against Shabab Al-Sahel.

Two-time defending champions Safa have the chance to move one point behind the leaders when they face sixth-placed Ansar Monday.

In other results, Salam Zgharta and Mabarra played out a 1-1 draw, with both teams fighting to distance themselves from the relegation zone.

They are still in 10th and 11th place, respectively.

Tripoli also registered a timely victory against neighbors Ijtimaai 2-0 to remain in mid-table.

Source: The Daily Star

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 Lifestyle

Sectarianism, set to music and dance

DBAYEH, Lebanon: “Sect 19,” the new stage play by the brothers Farid and Maher Sabbagh, interrogates the future of Lebanon’s sectarian political system.

The two-and-a-half-hour musical is set 30 years in the future in Roumieh prison, Lebanon’s largest correctional facility. The curtain rises upon 18 inmates – each standing in for one of the country’s 18 recognized confessions. All are being “rehabilitated,” in hopes of solving the problems that are underlying their deviant and unlawful behavior.

Funding the inmates’ rehabilitation program is wealthy businessman (Rafik Fakhri), whose political ambitions hinge on Lebanon collapsing into a cluster of sectarian statelets. Covering this process is a gold-digging reporter (Jessie Abdo), who serves as a love interest for the businessman.

For their part, the prisoners are kept isolated from one another, and are closely watched by an army unit, commanded by a captain (Youssef al-Khal), who is renowned for his robust patriotism.

The hero of the story, the captain, wants to protect unity of the state from the internal divisions threatening it and to cure the inmates of the disease they all share: “sectarianism.”

Aided by a team of Japanese experts, the army officer manages to produce a pill that has a miraculous and immediate effect on the inmates. Once they swallow it, the prisoners forget their scorn for each other and become more open to each other’s points of view.

The panacea, however, is not a real cure for the plague of sectarianism. Certain officials are plotting to divide the country along sectarian lines. Now supported by the prisoners he’s been guarding, the captain declares he will fight this conspiracy.

Leaving the prison, the captain and his team decamp to the Karantina trash mountain, where they encounter an army Colonel (Farid Sabbagh) who has been exiled for his opposition to the confessional political system.

Another antisectarian protagonist emerges in the character of Ben (Maher Sabbagh), an atheist who heads his own band of followers. The atheists are more radical than the captain and his allies, who haven’t abandoned their religious beliefs and are simply calling for the separation of sect and state.

These contending visions of secular politics prove impossible to reconcile and bloody clashes break out between the captain’s pious antisectarians and the godless atheists.

The colonel-in-exile is killed in these clashes. Before he dies, he suggests the captain forms a 19th confession that unifies all those Lebanese who stand against the sectarian politics dividing the country and who believes in national coexistence.

A morality tale on the compatibility of religious belief and secularism, “Sect 19” has some craft about it as well. Overseen by Yara Issa al-Khoury, the stage design is modern and vibrant. Painted backdrops first situate each of the prisoners in their cells. Later on, it sets the scene of Karantina’s municipal rubbish dump – the army captain’s inmates confront their atheist allies.

Clearly though, “Sect 19” is a political play, first and foremost.

“They agreed with each other and killed the nation,” one of the songs goes. “Our country was united and they divided us into 18 sects … If you want Lebanon to be a forum for all religions, let us unite and form the sect 19.”

The play’s political line is as evident in its promotional literature as it is in its patriotic songs. The Sabbagh brothers make it clear that they are calling on Lebanese to unite under a new sect committed to “co-existence and openness to the others.”

In doing so, they are at pains to avoid offending the matters of faith underlying Lebanese confessionalism, stressing that doing away with sectarianism isn’t an attack on religion as such.

The playwrights believe their call is needed to raise the awareness of a people absorbed by sectarian loyalties. The play suggests this is the only solution to Lebanon’s sectarian debacle, because a 1936 law withdraws the citizenship of any Lebanese national who denounces his or her sect.

If the play’s broad theatrical and narrative conventions conform to those of popular entertainment, the same is true of its political rhetoric. Most of the narrative and thematic elements in “Sect 19” can be correlated to the country’s recent political history fairly easily.

Yet depicting “atheism” as some kind of antipatriotic bogeyman – as though those who have opted out of the sectarian system have somehow been responsible for its worse excesses – is farcical and betrays a seam of political opportunism in the play.

Some might note a contradiction in political secular nationalists who place their faith in a military whose mechanisms are themselves conditioned by sectarianism. The role that might be played by civil society in overcoming sectarianism, on the other hand, is ignored, as is the institutional corruption that is often justified in sectarian terms, but has more convoluted roots.

Some may be entertained by the song and dance of “Sect 19,” but as a political platform audience may find that the play – like the magical Japanese-manufactured pill at its center – is just wishful thinking.

“Sect 19” runs Thursday to Sunday 8:30 p.m. at Dbayeh’s Qasr al-Moutamarat until the end of April.

Source: The Daily Star

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