Al-Saʼeḥ Library

The Al-Sa{{hamza}}eḥ Library (مكتبة السائح) is a library founded in 1970 and located in Tripoli, Lebanon by Reverent Ibrahim Sarouj, Priest of the Orthodox parish. It held about 80,000 books and manuscripts. The Library collection is diverse with regards to languages (Arabic, Italian, English, French text books), content (Literary, science, Christian and Muslim theology books and manuscripts), and publishing historical periods.

In January 2014, around 40% of the collection was deliberately burnt by unknown Islamist extremists.{{cite news|url=http://stateofmind13.com/2014/01/04/lebanon-loses-78000-books-to-terrorism-tripolis-infamous-al-saeh-library-burned/ |title=Lebanon Loses 78000 Books To Terrorism: Tripoli’s "Al Sa’eh" Library Burned |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106044230/http://stateofmind13.com/2014/01/04/lebanon-loses-78000-books-to-terrorism-tripolis-infamous-al-saeh-library-burned/ |archivedate=2014-01-06 |url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/112570-tripoli-figures-condemn-torching-famed-library-as-father-sarrouj-forgives-attackers |title=Tripoli Figures Condemn Torching Famed Library as Father Sarrouj 'Forgives Attackers' |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107034552/http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/112570-tripoli-figures-condemn-torching-famed-library-as-father-sarrouj-forgives-attackers |archivedate=2014-01-07 |url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=http://blogbaladi.com/20-pictures-of-al-saeh-library-in-tripoli-before-it-got-torched/ |title=20 Pictures Of Al Sa’eh Library in Tripoli Before It Got Torched |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106044206/http://blogbaladi.com/20-pictures-of-al-saeh-library-in-tripoli-before-it-got-torched/ |archivedate=2014-01-06 |url-status=live }}

Following the incident ‘youths from all sects in Tripoli launch a campaign titled "Kafana Samtan" (Enough Silence), followed up by a Zoomaal campaign that collected about $33,000 for the restoration and modernisation of the library'.{{Cite web|url=http://al-shorfa.com/en_GB/articles/meii/features/2015/01/23/feature-02|title=المشارق|last=المشارق|website=المشارق|language=ar|access-date=2018-07-01}}

Reverent Sarouj commented on the campaign by saying :

"While many tried to portray a stereotypical image of Tripoli, depicting it as an incubator for terrorism that rejects sectarian diversity, Tripoli's civil society proved its openness and preserved Tripoli's image as a civilised, inclusive [city], a model of coexistence”.

The library was reopened in an official ceremony on 3 January 2015.{{cite web|url=http://globalvoicesonline.org/2015/01/09/tripolis-torched-library-finally-re-opens-in-lebanon/|title=Tripoli’s Torched Library Finally Re-Opens in Lebanon · Global Voices|work=Global Voices|accessdate=24 April 2015}}