It is not surprising that, from time to time, we encounter impostors and inheritors of divisions who release statements filled with misleading language and incitement. Through these statements, they attempt to distort the truth and rewrite history, desperately trying to create a false legitimacy for a reality that lacks any legal or representative authority. It is no longer acceptable for these individuals to continue selling illusions to Lebanese expatriates while hiding behind hollow slogans and fabricated histories.
The statement purportedly issued by Mr. Antoine Karam, who falsely claims the title of “Continental President,” is merely another chapter in the ongoing assault on the legitimacy of the World Lebanese Cultural Union. This institution is legally and historically recognized by the Lebanese state under official license number 363/A.D. Since its founding, it has served as a unifying home for Lebanese expatriates of various backgrounds and orientations.
It is unfortunate that those behind divisive agendas resort to some known cheap writers who craft speeches filled with accusations, lies, and low insinuations, while they themselves exemplify a blatant attempt to divide the expatriate community and undermine the unity of the Lebanese diaspora in Australia and New Zealand. The very ones who speak of “cancellation” are the same individuals who built their existence on rebellion against legitimacy and the establishment of parallel bodies with the sole aim of creating confusion, deception, lies, and discord, all while exploiting the union’s name for narrow and personal interests.
The World Lebanese Cultural Union has never been an exclusionary institution. For decades, it has been a national space that carries the concerns of Lebanese expatriates, defends their rights, and connects them to their homeland with a spirit of belonging, unity, and solidarity. Its legitimacy is not derived from populist statements or media noise; rather, it comes from a long history of institutional work, recognition by the Lebanese state, and the trust of thousands of Lebanese expatriates worldwide.
The union prioritizes the dissemination of a culture of love and tolerance, confronting all forms of hate speech and division, be it sectarian, ethnic, or cultural. Lebanon, which has presented the world with a message of diversity and coexistence, finds in its expatriates excellent ambassadors for these values in multicultural environments such as Australia and New Zealand. Through collaboration with civil organizations, academic institutions, and cultural forums, the union seeks to instill the awareness that love is the supreme language that unites, builds, and does not divide or destroy.
As for the talk of “monopolizing representation,” this is a misleading claim intended to cover up the legitimacy crisis faced by splinter groups. Legitimacy cannot be seized through statements or obtained via smear campaigns; it is built on adherence to the law, respect for regulations, and working within the framework of the parent institution rather than outside it.
What was stated in the announcement is nothing more than a media showcase by a group of impostors trying to rebrand themselves after being rendered obsolete by legitimacy, law, and genuine expatriation.
The ironic twist is that those who accuse others of exclusion are daily practicing the worst forms of cancellation through incitement, spreading lies, and attempting to tarnish the image of anyone who refuses to engage in their divisive project. How can someone who has turned against the legitimate institution speak of unity? How can someone who sows division within the community claim to care about “uniting the Lebanese”?
Enough with the deception… The expatriate community is tired of these outdated methods based on spreading hatred, stirring tensions, and attempting to mislead public opinion. They are well aware of the difference between a historical, legitimate institution that has served the diaspora for decades and temporary groups trying to impose themselves through media noise and empty claims. They represent only themselves… And no matter how much they shout, lies will fall before the strength of the truth.
The insistence on fabricating “lies” and playing the victim while adopting the phrase “he hit me and cried, I was first to complain” as their banner shows nothing but weakness in argument and logic, along with fear for the imaginary positions they claim to represent.
The World Lebanese Cultural Union will remain, despite all attempts at defamation, a unifying institution that cannot be reduced to one person or monopolized by a group. It will uphold its national and expatriate mission based on freedom, plurality, and openness, bridging the gap between residents and expatriates, far from the mentality of division and cancellation that some are trying to revive within the Lebanese diaspora.
As for the statements filled with contradictions and accusations, they will not change one fact: legitimacy is not determined by impostors, but rather established by history, law, and the will of Lebanese expatriates who believe in the unity of their institutions and the dignity of their representation.
General Secretariat – Continental Council
Lebanese Cultural Union in Oceania
Australia – May 18, 2026
