Close to Souk-el- Gharb, there lies a Druze-Maronite village called Mijdalya. The inhabitants of which count 2000 Druze along with 200 Christian Maronites. Though a minority, the maronites have coexisted with this Druze majority, for they have loved their ancestor’s land and made their maximum effort to improve and develop the standard of living in the village.

Inspite of the crisis Lebanon has been passing through since 1975, a sort of Druze-Maronite coexistence remained effective until 1983. For during occupations which resulted in aggressive acts on Christians, wise men, kept interfering to bring things back to normal.

Early in summer 1983, Mijdlaya witnessed the death of Salim Shahin Tannous, a 40 year aged Christian. Early in the morning, late

Salim left his village heading for Beysour, a Druze village three kilometers away from Mijdlaya, to buy food for his family which consists of a wife and six children. At 3 p.m., and after being missed by his family, a Druze notable assured the family that he would look for Salim, and in fact he did. But Salim was found shot in his car between Mijdlaya and Beysour It is worth nothing that blood was still oozing when Salim was spotted. " wise Druze " condemned the murder while Christians considered Salim the " martyr of coexistence ".

Due to the frequent repetition of aggressive acts, and due to the fear that stuck the Christian minority, 19 ( 10 women and 9 men ) out of 200 maronites remained in the village representing the various families.

After the sudden Israeli withdrawal from Mount Lebanon without any coordination with the Lebanese Army, a fight broke out resulting in the fled away of Christians to Deir- El- Kamar. Meanwhile the Christians in Majdlaya suggested given the Druze the keys of their homes. The " Druze wisemen " considered that such an offer degraded their dignity for there was no cause ( in their opinion ) that might lead the Maronite to leave their village. Moreover, the " Druze wisemen " offered their homes to shelter the Maronites. But such a thing lasted for one night only, for the Druze asked them to go back home for fear that strangers might plunder their homes. Meantime, the Druze would guarantee their safety.

Friday night on September 16, 1983 was very dark for there was no current. Besides, it is the Day of Immolation. The Maronites of Mijdlaya were sitting around a lamp at Mahboub Haykal’s ( 80 year ) sitting room. It was 9 p.m. Suddenly, a group of armed elements arrived and greeted the people there. Then they wanted to know if all the Christians were there since they had been in charge of protecting them. Just then, the Christians stood up to greet them in return. Mahboub, the owner of the house, invited his visitors to come in so as to rest. "No, you yourselves will rest " the armed element answered. Suddenly, bullets were fired heavily and Mahboub Haykal, his son Salim

( 43 ), Nazira Tannous ( 52 ), Fahim zeyada ( 65 ), Hares Haykal ( 48 ) fell down in the blood. Later, the lamp was shot leaving everything to darkness, the gunmen left.

Ten minutes later, a voice was heard cursing those who committed such a massacre. Two women came out to save the wounded with the help of those " gallant gentlemen ". But alas, it was a trick for the two women Najla Tannous ( 55 ) and Therese zeyada ( 58 ) were shot to death, too. Then the killers started combing the area of the Christian sect, Shahin Tannous ( 77 ) was killed at his own threshold.

Those who escaped the first stage of the massacre had hidden in a remote corner of the house where the massacre had occurred. In addition, they heaped whatever sacks of rice, sugar, and salt were available as to hide behind them. Thus, they were able to overhear the killers calling the names of the dead and ridiculing them. In addition those who were still breathing their last were shot again. Then the dead were robbed the money and jewels they had to be distributed among the gunmen.

In the following morning, the killers withdrew, a fact which allowed those who survived to retreat to the forests heading for Beirut. However the killers succeed in capturing three of those who escaped. They were Nehme Haykal ( 58 ) who was brought back to Mijdlaya where he was slaughtered as well as , Latife Tannous ( 71 ) and Miladee Tannous (70).Anisa Haykal ( 68 ) had an accident and her leg was broken. So, she came back to the village where one of the Druze helped her to reach Beirut.

As to Jamila Tannous ( 45 ), the wife of Hares Haykal, she remained for eight successive days after the massacre in the village beside the corpse of her husband and those of her relatives. She was able to witness the plunder and destruction of the houses. She waited on the hope that the Red Cross or Civil Defense might rescue her but in vain. So, she decided to leave for Beirut. In, Beysour, a druze stopped her and helped her to reach her destination. And so, she along with other seven survivors were able to relate the barbarous and savage treatment of this group of Druze who were fighting under the " Nationalist Forces" umbrella, leaded by Walid Joumblatt and backed by syrian regime.

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