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Français (French) Cliquez sur le lien pour la traduction en français :
انقر على الرابط للاطلاع على الترجمة العربية
PEOPLE & NIHA DIRECTORY
Key Contacts, Accommodation and Local Services
Priest of Niha – Father Charbel Tannous +961 70 921 046
Mukhtar of Niha – Shallita “Mutran” Tannous +961 03 575 226
Mayor of Niha Municipality – Youssef Fahd +961 70 143 040 youssef.fahed@gmail.com
Niha Municipality – General Office niha.batroun.municipality@gmail.com
Australian Niha Association President: George Azzar +61 418 600 048
Accommodation and Visitor Experience
Cedar Scent Guesthouse +961 70 233 511
A boutique eco-stay nestled within the cedar landscape cedar-scent.com/en Instagram: @cedar_scent.lb
Niha Guesthouse +961 71 984 371
A welcoming local stay offering authentic village hospitality
Local Produce and Village Economy
Cedar Scent Organic Products +961 70 143 040
Wild zaatar, rare mushrooms, and seasonal vegetables
Rizk Rizk Farm – Rizk +961 03 171 330
Traditional dairy products sourced from local farming practices
Food And Culinary Experiences
Abou Charbel Butchery and Restaurant – Nabil Tannous +961 03 004 697
Authentic Lebanese cuisine and fresh local meats
Traditional Saj Bakery – Ramiz +961 71 821 278
Fresh saj bread and traditional village baking
Living Village Network
Niha is more than a destination—it is a connected community where leadership, heritage, and local enterprise come together to support a sustainable village future. Each contact and business forms part of a wider vision: preserving tradition while building opportunity.
PEOPLE FROM NIHA
RELIGIOUS PERSONS
Joining religious life has been a strong tradition in Niha, and this continues today. These faithful men and women have served the community and preserved Christian tradition through generations.
As in many Eastern Christian churches since the birth of Christianity (Catholic and Orthodox), married men were traditionally permitted to become priests. This explains why certain family bloodlines in Niha descend from priests.
It was also common that descendants of priests adopted the surname Khouri or El Khouri, meaning priest or from the house of the priest, as a way of identifying priestly lineage.
Current Religious Priests
- Father Charbel Tannous – Current priest for the village of Niha, Lebanon. Son of the current Mukhtar (Mayor) Shallita Tannous.
- Father Berand– Residing in Sydney, Australia.
Religious Nuns
- Sister Marie Angelique Salim– Nun at Zouk Mikhael cloistered convent, Maronite Nuns of the Sisters of the Visitation. Former Mother Superior. Daughter of the late former Mukhtar (Mayor) Khalil Salim.
- Sister Marie Antienne Francis– Nun of the Lebanese Maronite Order, convent in Jbeil (deceased).
- Sister Tannous (1)– Nun at Zouk Mikhael cloistered convent, Maronite Nuns of the Sisters of the Visitation. Daughter of the current Mukhtar (Mayor) Shallita Tannous.
- Sister Tannous (2)– Nun at Zouk Mikhael cloistered convent, Maronite Nuns of the Sisters of the Visitation. Daughter of the current Mukhtar (Mayor) Shallita Tannous.
Deceased Religious Priest
- Father Yousef Karam
- Father Gabriel Karam(brother of Father Yousef Karam) – Rebuilt the current main church.
- Father Boutros (Peter) Karam(son of Father Yousef Karam) – Father of Karam El Khouri (deceased, resided in Sydney) and Yousef El Khouri (deceased residing in Canada).
- Father Fahed– Died at age 107. Father of Latifi Fahd, who married former Mukhtar Khalil Salim. Also father of Fahd / Khouri. Descendants include grandsons George Salim and Abdullah Khouri (deceased residing in Sydney).
- Father Giris (George) Fahd(son of Father Fahd above) – Died last century at age 103.
- Father Fahd– Grandfather of Abdullah Khouri (deceased residing in Sydney).
- Father Simon– Descendants include grandson Fahim Khouri (deceased residing in Sydney).
- Father Charbel Diabes(Lebanese Maronite Order monk) – Current Parish Priest. Son of the late Diabes
Mukhtars (Mayors) of the Village
- By tradition, each village in Lebanon has a locally elected Mukhtar (“Mayor”), who keeps village records on behalf of the Government, witnesses land transfers, and assists in the resolution of disputes.
The current Mukhtar of Niha is:
- Shallita “Mutran” Tannous (son of the late Khazin Tannous)
Former Mukhtars (Deceased)
- (in order of appointment, as far back as records are held)
- Khazin “Mutran” Tannous, Jiris Kamel Khouri, Jiris Tannous Fahd, Khalil Salim, Khalil Nohra, Rizk Karam
PROFILS OF ACHIEVEMENTS FROM NIHA
Niha has produced many notable individuals who have made outstanding contributions across government, academia, medicine, public service, business, and community leadership.
This list was originally compiled in 2011, and there are many more individuals who can be added. Contributions and additions are warmly welcomed, and descendants are encouraged to submit their names and achievements for inclusion.
Dr Patrick Karam
(Born in Guadeloupe – Caribbean Islands | Residing in France)
Dr Patrick Karam studied and obtained qualifications in Law and International Law in Paris, and later earned a Doctorate in Political Science.
He served as the founding President of the Union of European Youth from 1989 to 1994.
He was appointed by the French Government as Head of the Interdepartmental Responsibility for Equality of Opportunity for French citizens from Overseas Territories, personally appointed by President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Dr Karam is the author of various published French articles and books on post-Soviet and Eastern European political science, including:
“The Return of Islam in the Ex-Russian Empire” (1996).
He has also published reports addressing human rights violations in various countries.
Professor Bernard Haykel
(Born in Lebanon | Residing in the United States)
Professor Bernard Haykel was educated at Oxford University, where he received his doctorate in Islamic Studies in 1988.
He is a Professor of Near Eastern Studies and Director of the Institute for the Transregional Study of the Contemporary Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia at Princeton University.
In addition to his academic work, Professor Haykel has advised both the British and U.S. governments on Islamic and Middle Eastern affairs.
He has extensive experience working throughout the Middle East and Asia, including several years of fieldwork in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, India, and Lebanon, and is a recipient of a Carnegie Corporation fellowship.
Professor Haykel has native fluency in Arabic, French, and English, and research competence in German, Italian, Spanish, as well as Farsi and Urdu.
Dr Albert Haykel
(Born in Guadeloupe – Caribbean Islands | Residing in Lebanon)
Dr Albert Haykel studied medicine and surgery in France and in the United States, where he obtained his qualifications before returning to Lebanon.
He later established Hospital Albert Haykel in Haykaliyeh, Lebanon (named after the family).
Dr Haykel contributed significantly to Niha’s development and was responsible for helping bring the asphalt road to Niha. He devoted substantial effort to assisting the village and its people, including:
- Construction of the new cemetery grounds
- Restoration of St George’s Church
- Construction of the steps leading to Saydet Al-Qalaa
General Samir Karam
(Born and residing in Lebanon)
General Samir Karam is a retired General of the Lebanese Police Force.
Caroline Karam
(Born in Guadeloupe – Caribbean Islands | Residing in Lebanon)
Caroline Karam is a Lebanese salsa dancing champion and has represented Lebanon internationally in dancing competitions.
Dr Antonio Saud
(Born in Cuba | Residing in the United States)
Dr Antonio Saud studied medicine at the University of Havana in 1958. He became an outspoken supporter of freedom and democratic values and was in conflict with the Communist government of Fidel Castro.
He was arrested and imprisoned as a political prisoner for more than a decade. In 1988, he gained his freedom and immigrated to Florida, USA.
Professor Salim Daoud
(Born in Guadeloupe – Caribbean Islands | Residing in France)
Professor Salim Daoud studied in Paris and became a paediatric surgeon in 1971. He later became a Professor at the Medical Academy.
George El Khouri
(Born and residing in Sydney, Australia)
George El Khouri studied Architecture at the University of New South Wales and has been actively involved in architectural planning for Lebanese and Maronite communities in Sydney.
His work includes the design of churches, schools, halls, and cultural centres. He also conceived and established the Niha website.
George El Khouri received the Order of Australia Medal for his services to architecture.
The Honourable Richard Torbay MP
(Born and residing in Sydney, Australia)
The Honourable Richard Torbay is a Member of the New South Wales Parliament. He served as Speaker of the House from 2007 to 2011 and later became Chancellor of the University of New England, Australia.
Charles Tarbey
(Born and residing in Sydney, Australia)
Charles Tarbey is Chairman and Regional Owner of the largest real estate franchise network in Australia, Century 21, and is a founder of the Australian franchise system.
He has lectured widely and authored various books on the real estate industry.
He also achieved significant sporting success, breaking five Australian weightlifting records as a junior and was declared the Best Junior Weightlifter in Australia in 1971.
