A Final Appeal from the Residents and Emigrants of Aaqoura

To all the respected officials of the Lebanese Republic,

We, the sons and daughters of the town of Aaqoura—those residing on its land and those forcibly displaced abroad due to harsh circumstances—address you, the decision-makers in this wounded nation, with our final appeal under the title:

“Stop the Assault on Aaqoura”

For over a century, our ancestors defended the land of Aaqoura. Geographic distance or acts of intimidation will not deter us from achieving justice through the courts and under the law to reclaim what is rightfully ours—our ancestors’, our children’s, and the Lebanese Aaqoura diaspora's.

Greetings,

After having migrated to the United States 28 years ago, I, Botros Chehade Kemel, a Lebanese-American businessman, was shocked by what was happening in Aaqoura, my beloved hometown and the land of my ancestors and family. I was utterly taken aback by the theft, seizure, alteration of boundaries, and sale of plots at exorbitant prices with the aim of erasing truths and infringing on the rights of absent or intentionally excluded owners.

With the support of over 50 Lebanese emigrants from Aaqoura, legal proxies have been organized, entrusting a specialized American law firm in real estate and criminal law to follow up on the land seizure issue in collaboration with specialized Lebanese law firms.

The affected individuals have signed this petition from the Lebanese diaspora, the residents of Aaqoura living abroad, and the residents of the town who are directly affected by this petition.

I. The Grounds for This Petition:

Despite numerous attempts by the people of Aaqoura to file objections to prevent the surveying of properties by those who are not their rightful owners, no resolution has been reached. These illegal activities related to land surveying persist in our beloved town and have even doubled!

Indeed, the process of erasing landmarks and changing boundaries has affected both private properties belonging to town residents—without informing neighboring landowners, many of whom reside abroad—and also the town’s communal lands, which constitute the municipal property of Aaqoura, all under the protection of parties now known and with legal cover from the municipal lawyer, who is supposed to safeguard the town's public interest and observe the applicable laws and regulations, just like the entire municipality. The most recent incident involves providing legal cover to a mayor (Boulos Shaker Yaghi), whose serious misconduct will be detailed later.

Aaqoura is a historical mountainous town known for its scenic landscapes and cultural heritage. For centuries, its people have fought to protect their lands. Yet today, we face a fierce campaign targeting both people and property, specifically involving land surveying and the transfer of ownership to others, exploiting the emigration of its people. It is no secret that this is being done in collaboration with local authorities, including mayors, surveyors tasked with land surveys, and other politically influential actors!

Since 2010, land surveying has been conducted secretly and without adhering to Lebanese legal procedures. This includes:

• Surveying lands without notifying or involving neighboring landowners, as required by law.
• Forging property deeds using invalid signatures and transferring ownership to influential individuals.
• Surveying and selling public lands in historically significant areas to non-Lebanese buyers without the knowledge or consent of the local population. Specifically, it has been revealed that historical public lands in Aqoura, including the area of Al-Aafsa in Al-Ruwais above Al-Limouna, have been surveyed and sold to unknown and non-Lebanese buyers. Similarly, the public land at Ain Al-Shalala in Al-Laqlouq, covering an area of 700,000 square meters, has been surveyed and sold, with the possibility of other hidden violations.

Boulos Shaker Yaghi, one of the current four mayors of Aqoura, who assumed the position in 2010 after his father, appears to be the main organizer of this corrupt scheme. He is currently facing several legal cases and is accused of forging identity documents and facilitating land theft. These severe accusations are now under investigation in Lebanese courts.

Yaghi is the only person with access to the Tabu registry (Ottoman property deeds) and the old surveying records of Mount Lebanon. This gives him exclusive access to critical information that he seems to withhold from the other mayors of Aaqoura, limiting their ability to verify or address issues of land ownership and rights.

This blatant disregard for legal procedures has led to the theft of private and communal lands, including the properties of expatriates unaware of these activities. Furthermore, the sale of historical public lands threatens the identity of our entire community.

II. The Demands:

We, the undersigned, strongly reject the ongoing land surveying and seizures in the Aaqoura region and demand the following:

• Immediate halt to illegal surveying: Cease all land surveying activities in Aaqoura until a transparent legal review is conducted.
• Review all land surveys: Conduct an official review of all surveys conducted without proper legal notification and the consent of neighboring landowners. Upon reviewing the records, it is evident that notifications were given without inviting or hearing objections, leaving the owners’ section blank.
  This review must include representatives chosen by the community and be carried out openly and transparently.
• Hold local authorities accountable: Summon the mayors and surveyors involved in these illegal activities to ensure they are held responsible for their actions. We demand full disclosure of the legal basis they relied on to conduct the surveys and the annulment of any surveys without valid legal documents.
• Recover stolen lands: Any lands surveyed or transferred illegally must be returned to their rightful owners. Public lands sold without proper legal authority must be returned to the community.
• Protect expatriates’ lands: Safeguard the rights of Lebanese expatriates whose lands are stolen, ensuring their ownership is respected and protected.

III. Conclusion:

We call on the Lebanese state and all official bodies to act swiftly to rectify this injustice and protect the rights of the people of Aaqoura. The theft of land is not just a loss of property; it is an assault on our heritage, identity, and future. We will not stand idly by as our town is taken from us.

If the Lebanese authorities fail to provide a firm, transparent, and legal investigation into this case of financial corruption—which raises severe suspicions of potential involvement in money laundering linked to terrorism and supported by a powerful political mafia—we will immediately escalate the matter through international legal channels, starting with the U.S. Congress. A broad global investigation will be launched to scrutinize these justified suspicions, and every responsible party will be held accountable without compromise or hesitation.

Join us in this fight for justice. Together, we can stop the theft of Aaqoura’s lands and protect our community for future generations.

This final appeal is directed to all relevant authorities and officials in the Lebanese state—from His Excellency the President of the Republic, to the Prime Minister, to the Ministers of Interior and Justice, and to every official with authority over land surveying and local governance in the town of Aaqoura.

We hope our appeal resonates with you and that you take swift action to fulfill the national and moral duty entrusted to you, as statesmen responsible for protecting the people and safeguarding their rights and property.