The announcement by Lebanese media personality Jessica Azar about her wedding on June 11 surprised many, especially since she had not previously shared news of a romantic relationship, despite having several pictures with her future husband, Mohammad Soufan, whom she met by chance through close friends. Jessica Azar appears happy despite a social media campaign against her, but she remains unfazed and plans her future with optimism, looking forward to living joyfully with the man she has chosen with her heart and mind.
What does the "Bride of 2021" tell "Al-Rai"?
- June 11 is the date of your wedding; how long have you known your future husband Mohammad Soufan?
- By the time we get married, it will have been 11 months since we met.
- You’ve been chased by many rumors. Does he know about them, or does he not pay attention to them?
- He doesn’t care about those things. I don’t think a mature and aware person would stop to dwell on them.
- Will Kazem Al Saher be among the guests at your wedding?
- The wedding will be limited to our family members and close friends only. It won't be a grand ceremony but will include only 300 people. I want to have a wedding that allows my family and those around me to rejoice in my happiness, especially since the "COVID-19" situation makes it impossible to host large weddings. I personally don’t like them much and I’ve always said that I want my wedding attended by people who mean a lot to me and who genuinely celebrate my joy.
- Everyone will wonder about the nature of your marriage, whether it will be civil or if you will embrace Islam, considering that you come from different religions?
- What kind of logic is this? We advocate for national unity and coexistence. When a Christian woman decides to marry a Muslim man, or a Christian man decides to marry a Muslim woman, it becomes a matter!
- It’s not a matter, but rather curiosity from people who want to know about your type of marriage?
- Each of us will remain true to our religion, and I won’t change my religion or anything about myself, because I was born a Christian, and my future children will get to know all religions and be open-minded just like me and their father. We live in one country. Every Christian girl getting married to a Muslim man gets asked if she will convert to Islam. My husband will not ask me to change my religion. He respects me, and I respect him. He participates in the Christian holidays with me, and I participate in Ramadan with him in all its details.
- Many prefer civil marriage even if they are from the same religion. For example, Nancy Ajram married civilly?
- They've begun writing comments on my social media accounts, thinking they are insulting me or that I will be upset, whereas I really don't care at all. The person I love is from the Shia sect, and if I have a political disagreement with Hezbollah, that does not mean I have a conflict with the Shia community.
- Differences of opinion can exist while respect remains intact?
- It’s my private life, and no one has the right to interfere, whether I marry a man from my religion or another religion. I grew up in a family that does not differentiate between Muslims and Christians, and I never heard such talk from my parents; they didn’t even think about it among themselves. Since we were young, my parents had no problem having friends from different religions, and they never commented on it; their only concern was that we were happy and comfortable.
I could marry a man from my religion and not be happy with him, just as I could marry a man from another religion and be happy with him, love him, and be loved.
- How have you planned for life after marriage, for instance, where will you live and how many children will you have?
- As for having children, I don’t know. It's up to God. I dream of that moment, and surely I would be happy if God blessed me with children, but we haven't discussed plans or projects related to children or their number.
- Do you prefer a big family?
- Of course. Mohammad was previously married and has children from his previous marriage, and I love them and feel connected to them; I feel as if they are a part of me.
- Do you love them like their father does?
- Certainly, and I learn from them, and I’m their companion. The larger our family is, the happier we’ll be.
- Do you think that marrying a man who was previously married helps in the success of the marriage experience, as he has experience?
- That’s true. When Mohammad spoke with my father, my dad told him he felt comfortable, contrary to what some might think that he was worried about your previous marriage because I know you will treat my daughter well; a person learns from their past experiences, and I expect your marriage to my daughter to succeed. My parents are very open-minded and understanding.
- Where will your home be?
- In Beirut. I have no plans to live outside of it.
- In the Raouche area or in Ramlet Beyda?
- Let this be my decision.
- And you must have decorated it with Mohammad?
- Yes. We have finished everything.
- Is your wedding dress designed by Elie Saab?
- That's correct, and the makeup is by Bassam Fattouh, the hair by George Mandali, and the wedding is organized by Pamela Mansour Mehanna.
- What is the price of your wedding dress?
- I won't say.
- But people are interested in this?
- What matters to them is to see my wedding dress, how I will look, and the details of my wedding. Thank God I did not steal from the state; everything I do is within my rights and I did not take from the rights of others.
- Are you optimistic about the situation in Lebanon?
- There is nothing that calls for optimism, but that doesn’t mean I am resigned.
