The writer Elias Al-Dairi, known as "Zayan," has passed away at the age of 86. His son, Fadi Al-Dairi, mourned the great loss, stating: "I called out to God, they didn't turn back to me. May God rest you, my father, Elias Jirjis Al-Dairi, the maker of presidents. Christ has risen, truly risen." Al-Dairi headed the editorial team of "An-Nahar Al-Arabi Wal-Duwali" magazine, published by Gebran Tueni in Paris. He was a Lebanese writer, journalist, and politician, born in the village of Dada-Koura. His novel "The Dead Knight Dismounts" was ranked 101 on the list of the best Arabic novels by the Arab Writers Union in 2001. He had been a member of the Lebanese Journalists' Syndicate and the Story Club since 1960.
The Syndicate expressed its condolences for journalist Elias Al-Dairi, stating: "After enduring great suffering in recent years, especially following the Beirut Port explosion, he was a writer and an artist who spent his life devoted to the pen, knowing no other weapon. He joined the Lebanese Journalists' Syndicate in 1962 and struggled within it, defending freedom of thought and expression."
Joseph Al-Qasifi, the Syndicate's head, noted in his tribute: "Just as the wolf returns to its den, Elias Al-Dairi has returned to the soil from which he was made, carrying nothing from his world except a pen that bled creativity for decades. Zayan was a revolutionary in the pages of An-Nahar, having been the journalist Elias who interviewed major politicians and a source of files in the supplements titled 'Presidentials', shedding light on the personalities of candidates fit to enter the Baabda Palace. These supplements, published by An-Nahar, were characterized by precise information, graceful style, and deep analysis. He was infatuated with literature, dipping his pen in fire, rose water, and jasmine perfume, which fundamentally shaped his character, blending revolution with anger and breezes of love, making him stand out in expressing his presence against the backdrop of his overwhelming emotions.
Stylish in his attire, he loved life to the fullest, having filled its cup to the brim. He enjoyed celebrating it, as he was a son of life. Such was Elias Al-Dairi, a son of Dada in the green Koura, who drew from its pristine nature the beauty he infused into his profession, without forgetting his deep-rooted urban background to which he remained loyal. In the arena of freedom, he was a loud, vibrant knight, never lacking courage, and he 'dismounted' like the knight in his story "The Dead," joining esteemed colleagues who enriched the profession that elevated both them and it. He had owned a publication but relinquished its ownership years ago, seeking to return to the Syndicate, as it was his home and his union, and he achieved his wish.
It pains the Syndicate to lose a colleague of such stature, joining comrades who immortalized Lebanese and Arab journalism with their marks, significant contributions, and strong presence in the public sphere. It saddens them to see them fall, one after another, in the twilight years of life, after they have completed their endeavors and fought the good fight. Farewell, Elias Al-Dairi, as you embark on your eternal journey to the realm of the immortal."
