Abed El Raouf Ahmad Khalil

My name is Abed El Raouf. I was a 36-yearold active and ambitious person. After studying medicine at the University of Cairo in Egypt, I came back to Lebanon to work as a lab technician in the region of Barbir. At the end of every day, I would go hang out with some friends at Raouche’s Meriland cafe, which has now been replaced by the Movenpick Hotel. I also used to go very often to Tripoli where I had a car dealership business. After each trip I would always pass by my mother’s house bringing her some of her favorite desserts.

Each and every one of my relatives remembers that I was truly passionate about Lebanon. I had the chance to travel regularly but was always eager to return home. I never missed an opportunity to travel around Lebanon with my brother Talal who used to accompany me in all my adventures. One of them - that was very dear to my heart - was a schooling project to improve youth education in my country. My plan was to create a professional college where the students would be better prepared to start a job. I had a lot of ambition for Lebanon and a lot of energy to invest.

However, it all stopped on that fateful September day in 1982, when I went missing while returning to Tripoli. My parents aged tormented by the uncertainty of my fate. They both died without knowing what happened to me.

My Name is Abed El Raouf Ahmad Khalil, I have always loved my country, but it seemed to have given up on me. Do not let my story end here.