BEIRUT: Press Martyrs Day in Lebanon, which falls Wednesday, is of special significance this year, as May 6, 2015, commemorates one century of martyrdom and sacrifices made by Lebanese journalists.

Lebanese journalists and nationalists advocating freedom from four centuries of Ottoman rule were hanged on three occasions in 1915 and 1916, in what is known today as Martyrs’ Square in Beirut.

The last group was executed on May 6, 1916, a day which would be declared Press Martyrs Day in independent Lebanon.

Among the journalists hanged by the Turks in Beirut were: Said Akl, Abdel-Karim Khalil, Mohammad Mahmasani, Abdel-Ghani Araysi, Petro Paoli, Sheikh Ahmad Hasan Tabbara, Aref Chehabi, Omar Hamad, brothers Philip and Farid Khazen, Jerji Haddad, along with Antoine and Toufic Zreik.

(Link)