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Dany Dargham, a Lebanese priest, has spoken out after an Israeli soldier was seen damaging a statue of Jesus in the southern Lebanese town of Deir Seryan, saying the real danger lies not in the broken stone but in the destruction of the values it stands for.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), priest Dany Dargham condemned the incident involving the statue in Deir Seryan, a town in south Lebanon located around 6 kilometers (3.72 miles) from the border.
While the timing of the incident has not been clarified, photos shared on social media on April 19 showed an Israeli soldier striking the statue of Jesus with an axe. The act prompted a strong public reaction.
Dargham said the action deserved condemnation yet stressed that it did not shake Christian faith itself. In one of his clearest remarks, he said, "This condemned act does not harm our faith. The real danger is not the breaking of the stone, but the breaking of the values it represents—love, dignity, truth and freedom."
Dargham said religious symbols are not merely made of stone, but give shape to the faith of a community and reflect its spiritual dignity. Because of that, he framed the act as a violation of freedom of belief and of the sacred value others attach to what they hold holy.
He also warned that the more serious threat begins when love and peace give way to violence, saying that religion is then wounded not only in form but also in essence.
The priest also underlined that Christianity does not reduce the presence of Jesus to a statue or portrait. He said the honor of Jesus could not be stained by the breaking of a stone, because that presence remains alive in the hearts of believers, in their personal relationship with him, in prayer and in liturgy, through the power and activity of the Holy Spirit.
Dargham further said those who believe Christians in the area have allies other than freedom and truth are mistaken. He also rejected the idea that such acts could push people into choosing between what he called two evils.
After the image spread online, the Israeli army acknowledged that the photo was real and said action would be taken against those involved. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said the person responsible would face the harshest disciplinary punishment.
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