Leila Al Solh | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1946 (age 78–79) |
| Alma mater | Saint Joseph University |
| Spouse | Majid Hamadeh |
| Parents |
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Leila Al Solh (Arabic:ليلى الصلح; born 1946) is the vice president ofAlwaleed bin Talal Humanitarian Foundation and a former Lebanese minister of industry.
Born inBeirut in 1946, Leila Al Solh is the youngest daughter of the late formerLebanese Prime MinisterRiad Al Solh, and his wife Fayza Al Jabiri.[1][2] Leila Al Solh is the aunt ofAl Waleed bin Talal.[3][4]
Leila Al Solh studied at the department of oriental studies ofSaint Joseph University, Beirut.[5]
Leila Al Solh served as the minister of industry in thecabinet led byPrime MinisterOmar Karami from 2004 to 2005,[1][6] making her one of the early woman ministers in Lebanon.[7] Al Solh is the vice president of Alwaleed bin Talal Humanitarian Foundation in Lebanon since its establishment in August 2003.[5] Under her management, the foundation realized many activities to support for education, health and social organisations throughout the country.[8]
Leila Al Solh published an article in the Lebanese dailyAn Nahar on 20 March 2001, criticising the Syrian government.[9] She argued thatBashar al-Assad shares his father's (Hafez al-Assad's) ambition to control Lebanon.[10] She further claimed that the differences between Bashar and Hafez al-Assad are that Bashar al-Assad is much more interested in "the investments of Lebanon's tycoons" than the land of Lebanon itself and that he attempts to eliminate foreign criticism by changing the locus of Syrian control from the "army to the [security] agencies."[10] On the other hand, Solh announced her support for the extension of presidentEmile Lahoud's term in 2004.[11]
Leila Al Solh published two books on Lebanon as follows:[5]
(2009).Les élections de 2009, les enjeux culturels (The 2009 Elections, Cultural Issues), L’Orient – Le Jour (Special Edition)
(2008).Un Liban à retrouver (A Return to Lebanon), L’Orient – Le Jour (Special Edition)
On 12 March 2008, Leila Al Solh was awarded the Pontifical Medal byPope Benedict XVI for the efforts of the Alwaleed bin Talal Humanitarian Foundation to encourage religious tolerance.[1][12]
Al Solh has been regarded as one of the most powerful women in the Middle East. She was named as one of the most powerful three women in 2008.[13] She was considered to be the 4th most powerful woman among 100 Arab women in 2011.[14] In 2012, she was nominated byArabian Business as the 17th most powerful woman among 100 Arab women.[1] She was named as the world's most influential 39th Arab in 2012 byArabian Business.[8]
In 2009, Al Solh was awarded with an honorary doctorate from theAmerican University of Science and Technology.
Leila Al Solh was married to former Lebanese education minister Majid Hamadeh.[13] She has two daughters and one son.[15] One of her daughters, Haya Majid Hamadeh, graduated from the faculty of medicine atAmerican University of Beirut in 2005.[16]
| Preceded by | Minister of Industry 2004 – 2005 | Succeeded by |