George Hawi (; born 5 November 1938 – 21 June 2005) was a Lebanese politician and former secretary general of the Lebanese Communist Party (LCP). An outspoken critic of Syrian interference in Lebanese affairs, he was killed in 2005 by a bomb placed under the passenger seat of his car. Lebanese people accused the Syrian government of assassinating him. He was the stepfather of the Lebanese Armenian politician Rafi Madayan.
Early life and career
George Hawi was born in the village of Bteghrine, Lebanon on 5 November 1938 to a Lebanese family. Although born into an Antiochian Greek Orthodox Christian family, Hawi professed to be an atheist.
He became active in student politics in his early years at university, participating in numerous strikes and demonstrations and in several popular movements. He joined the LCP in 1955
Assassination
George Hawi was assassinated on 21 June 2005 when a bomb planted in his Mercedes car was detonated by remote control, as he travelled through Beirut's Wata Musaitbi neighbourhood. A nearly one-pound charge was placed under his seat, and was detonated by remote control. The link according to sources is Unit 121, the assassination squad of Hezbollah. The STL had previously issued indictments against members of Hezbollah for the Hariri killing.
See also
- Lebanese Communist Party
- Democratic Left Movement
- Hanna Gharib
- Kamal Jumblatt
- Lebanese National Resistance Front
- List of assassinated Lebanese politicians
- List of extrajudicial killings and political violence in Lebanon