October 11, 2026
The head of the Maronite League, Engineer Maroun Al-Helou, raised the issue of land sales in Lebanon, warning of its repercussions on the Christian presence, and demanding the opening of a serious investigation into operations he described as “organized and suspicious.”
In a tweet posted on the “X” platform, Al-Helou stressed that protecting real estate ownership is closely linked to protecting identity and historical presence, adding: “Land sales in an organized and suspicious manner call for accountability and serious investigation. What is required is to protect ownership and historical existence. Land is not a commodity to be sold, but identity, history, and existence.”
This position comes as an extension of a series of previous warnings issued by the Maronite League regarding land purchases in several Lebanese districts, including Baabda, Jezzine, Zahle, and the coastal Chouf.
In a statement issued on January 14, 2026, the League linked the protection of land to the preservation of the Christian presence within the pluralistic Lebanese fabric, warning of the demographic risks of random selling, and calling for the adoption of legal controls that protect property.
In the same context, the Maronite League, in a joint statement with the “Renewal for the Homeland” movement issued on May 19, called on municipalities and competent authorities to scrutinize sales operations and their sources of funding, stressing the need to prepare legislation that prevents suspicious and organized operations that aim to change the identity and social reality of some areas.
These warnings reflect a growing fear that the continuous change in real estate ownership will lead to a decline in the historical and social presence of the Christian component in their historic towns.
