Credit: Wikipedia / Υπουργείο Εξωτερικών /   Gebran Gerge Bassil is a Lebanese politician who serves as the president of the Free Patriotic Movement

By Gary Raynaldo     DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

The United States has sanctionded Lebanese political leader Gibran Bassil for alleged corruption.  Bassil, the leader of the Lebanese Free Patriotic Movement and a former Lebanese cabinet official,  has been sanctioned under Executive Order (E.O.) 13818 for his role in corruption. E.O. 13818, which builds on and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, targets corruption and serious human rights abuses around the world, the U.S. Department of State announced Friday.  Bassil has served in multiple high-level posts in the Lebanese government, including as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Minister of Energy and Water, and Minister of Telecommunications. 

“Throughout his government career, Bassil has become notorious for corruption and has been linked to the purchase of influence within Lebanese political circles. While Minister of Energy, Bassil was involved in approving several projects that would have steered Lebanese government funds to individuals close to him through a group of front companies.  Through his corrupt activities, Bassil has also undermined good governance and contributed to the prevailing system of corruption and political patronage that plagues Lebanon, which has aided and abetted Hizballah’s destabilizing activities.”

-U.S Secretary of State Michael Pompeo

The Magnitsky Act gives the president the power to block US entry and impose property sanctions against any foreign person, or entity, who is responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights or is engaged in government corruption.  “Today’s actions build on the recent counterterrorism designations under Executive Order 13224 of former Lebanese officials, Yusuf Finyanus and Ali Hassan Khalil, who put personal interests and those of Iran-backed Hizballah ahead of the welfare of the Lebanese people,” Pompeo added.

“In addition to his designation pursuant to Global Magnitsky sanctions authorities, I am announcing the designation of Bassil under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2020 (Div. G, P.L. 116-94), due to his involvement in significant corruption. Under Section 7031(c), once the Secretary of State designates officials of foreign governments for their involvement, directly or indirectly, in significant corruption, those individuals are ineligible for entry into the United States.”    – U.S  Secretary of State Pompeo

Bassil responded to the sanctions: 

“No sanctions frightened me, nor promises tempted me.”

لا العقوبات اخافتني ولا الوعود أغرتني.
لا أنقلب على أي لبناني…
ولا أُنقذ نفسي ليَهلك لبنان.
اعتدت الظلم وتعلّمت من تاريخنا : كُتب علينا في هذا الشرق أن نحمل صليبنا كل يوم … لنبقى. GB

— Gebran Bassil (@Gebran_Bassil) November 6, 2020

“I will not turn against any Lebanese nor save myself to let Lebanon perish.”     –  Gebran   Bassil