{{Short description|Lebanese politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Ashraf Rifi<br/>{{Nobold|{{lang|ar|أشرف ريفي}}}} | birth_name = | image = Visit of Achraf Rifi to the ECP - 027679000401-917007 (cropped).jpg | order = | office2 = General Director of the Lebanese [[Internal Security Forces]] | president2 = | term_start2 = 1 April 2005 | term_end2 = 1 April 2013 | predecessor2 = [[Ali Al Hajj]] | successor2 = Roger Salem | office1 = [[Ministry of Justice (Lebanon)|Minister of Justice]] | prime_minister1 = [[Tammam Salam]] | term_start1 = 15 February 2014 | term_end1 = 21 February 2016 | predecessor1 = [[Shakib Qortbawi]] | successor1 = [[Salim Jreissati]] | office = [[Lebanese Parliament|Member of the Lebanese Parliament]] | constituency = [[Tripoli, Lebanon|Tripoli]] ([[2022 Lebanese general election|2022]]) | term_start = 21 May 2022 | term_end = | predecessor = [[Najib Mikati]] | successor = | office3 = | term_start3 = | term_end3 = | predecessor3 = | successor3 = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|4|1|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Tripoli, Lebanon]] | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = | children = 4 | party = [[Future Movement]] (former) <br> Sanad Movement (2023–present) | other_party = [[Renewal Bloc]] | alma_mater = [[Lebanese University]] | footnotes = | rank = [[Major General]] | service_years = 1976–2013 | caption = Rifi in 2015 | allegiance = {{Flag|Lebanon}} | branch = [[Lebanese Armed Forces]] | battles = [[Lebanese Civil War]] }}
'''Ashraf Rifi''' ({{langx|ar|أشرف ريفي}}; also spelled '''Achraf Rifi''') (born 1 April 1954) is a Lebanese politician and former police chief. He was the general director of the Lebanese [[Internal Security Forces]] (ISF; the national police) from 2005 to 2013 and served as minister of justice from 15 February 2014 to 21 February 2016. He is a member of the [[Renewal Bloc]] in the [[Lebanese Parliament]].
==Early life and education== Rifi was born into a [[Sunni Islam in Lebanon|Muslim Sunni]] family in [[Tripoli, Lebanon]] on 1 April 1954.<ref name=athink21>{{cite news|title=Killing Mr. Lebanon II: Wissam al-Hassan|url=http://arabsthink.com/2012/10/21/killing-mr-lebanon-ii-wissam-al-hassan/|accessdate=21 March 2013|newspaper=Arabs Think|date=21 October 2012}}</ref><ref name=wleaks13may>{{cite news|title=ISF is doing its job|url=http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/360|accessdate=4 April 2013|newspaper=Wikileaks|date=13 May 2008}}</ref> He attended [[Lebanese University]] (LU), studying the sociology of crime. He studied police work abroad during assignments with police forces in [[Ottawa|Ottawa, Ontario]], [[Canada]]; [[Maisons-Alfort]], [[France]]; and [[Saudi Arabia]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=PROFILE: Minister of Justice Ashraf Rifi |url=https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/lebanon-news/140013/lbci-lebanon-articles/en |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=LBCIV7 |language=en}}</ref>
==Career ==
=== Security forces === Rifi joined the Police of the [[North Governorate]] in 1976 and was first posted as a Police Lieutenant in [[Halba, Lebanon|Halba]] from 1976 to 1978. Thereafter, he was Police Chief or Deputy Police Chief of various small towns in [[Akkar]], [[Koura District|Koura]] and [[Byblos District|Byblos]], before joining the Anti Smuggling Unit of Tripoli Police in 1983 as a Major. Having gotten trained in explosive detection and disposal in France in 1980–1981, between 1985 and 1988 he was part of the security detail of Prime Minister [[Rashid Karami]] and [[Salim Hoss]]. As a Lieutenant Colonel, he was loaned out to the Saudi Interior Ministry as a security officer between 1988 and 1992. Promoted to Colonel in 1992, between 1992 and 1994, he was Chief of the Riot Police in [[Beirut]], and Chief of Police in Central Beirut between 1994 and 1996. Between 1996 and 1997, he was the Police Chief of Sidon City. As a Brigadier, he became Head of Police of the North Governorate in 1997, Chief of Beirut Police in 2000, and Chief of Modernisation in 2002. He was promoted to major general in April 2005 when he was named to head the national police due to the resignation of former head, [[Ali Al Hajj]].<ref name=anews295>{{cite news|title=Lebanese Govt Removes Top Prosecutor, Security Chief|url=http://www.arabnews.com/node/266123|accessdate=28 January 2013|newspaper=Arab News|date=29 April 2005}}</ref> Rifi is one of the board members of the Prince Nayef University for Security Studies.<ref name=abukhalil>{{cite news|last=AbuKhalil|first=Asad|title=The Michel Samaha Affair|url=http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/11067|accessdate=20 October 2012|newspaper=Al Akhbar|date=13 August 2012}}</ref> Rifi has close ties to [[Saudi Arabia]].<ref name=abukhalil/><ref name=galey>{{cite news|last=Galey|first=Patrick|title=Is Assad trying to export Syria's crisis to Lebanon?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/aug/14/assad-lebanon-damascus-syria|accessdate=24 October 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|date=14 August 2012}}</ref>
Rifi's term ended on 1 April 2013 and he retired due to mandatory age limit.<ref name=tds4apr>{{cite news|title=Jumblatt says backs Salam, wants national unity Cabinet |url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2013/Apr-04/212609-jumblatt-endorses-mp-salam-to-head-lebanon-government.ashx#axzz2PVqkb3k2|accessdate=4 April 2013|newspaper=The Daily Star|date=4 April 2013}}</ref><ref name=tww23mar>{{cite news|title=Lebanese president accepts premier's resignation|url=http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/mar/23/lebanese-president-accepts-premiers-resignation/?print|accessdate=5 April 2013|newspaper=The Wenatchee World|date=23 March 2013|agency=AP}}</ref> Rifi's term was not extended by [[Lebanese government of June 2011|the Lebanese government]], leading to resignation of premier [[Najib Mikati]] in March 2013.<ref name=lib28mar>{{cite news|last=Rowell|first=Alex|title=The battle for Rifi's successor|url=https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/reportsfeatures/the-battle-for-rifis-successor|accessdate=4 April 2013|newspaper=Ya Libnan|date=28 March 2013}}</ref><ref name=dak5apr>{{cite news|last=Dakroub|first=Hussein|title=Salam emerges as Lebanon's next PM|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2013/Apr-05/212660-salam-emerges-as-lebanons-next-pm.ashx#axzz2PVqkb3k2|accessdate=5 April 2013|newspaper=The Daily Star|date=5 April 2013|location=Beirut}}</ref> [[Hezbollah]] members of [[Lebanese government of June 2011|the Mikati cabinet]] did not endorse the extension of his term.<ref name=tds3apr>{{cite news|title=Ghosn approves extension of security chief's term|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2013/Apr-03/212460-ghosn-approves-extension-of-security-chiefs-term.ashx#axzz2PVqkb3k2|accessdate=5 April 2013|newspaper=The Daily Star|date=3 April 2013}}</ref> Roger Salem, who had been deputy of Rifi since December 2012, succeeded Rifi as head of the ISF.<ref name=tds30mar>{{cite news|title=Rifi hands over police helm to Salem|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2013/Mar-30/212053-rifi-hands-over-police-helm-to-salem.ashx#axzz2PVqkb3k2|accessdate=4 April 2013|newspaper=The Daily Star|date=30 March 2013}}</ref><ref name=daily5dec>{{cite news|title=Cabinet appoints Roger Salem dep. com. of ISF|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Cabinet+appoints+Roger+Salem+dep.+com.+of+ISF.-a0310955386|accessdate=9 April 2013|newspaper=The Daily Star|date=5 December 2012|location=Beirut}}</ref> [[Saad Hariri]] proposed Rifi as a new prime minister, but his proposal was not supported.<ref name=tds4apr/>
Rifi as a general director of internal Security Forces was very open to cooperate with civil society organizations. For example, he supported the partnership between ISF and YASA (youth association for social awareness) in many road safety interventions that contributed positively for road safety in Lebanon.<ref>[http://www.yasa.org/ YASA]</ref> He supported the efforts that led to the new Lebanese traffic law #243 that was enacted by the Lebanese parliament in 2012.
=== Politics === Rifi was appointed justice minister in the cabinet led by [[Tammam Salam]] on 15 February 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lebanese cabinet formed after 10-month stalemate|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/02/15/Fresh-hopes-for-Lebanon-cabinet-formation.html|accessdate=18 February 2014|work=Al Arabiya|date=15 February 2014}}</ref> He resigned as justice minister on 21 February 2016,<ref>{{cite news|title=Lebanese minister resigns over Hezbollah domination|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/c1a482aa539143cb9562c8fe29bb1f4d/lebanon-justice-minister-resigns-over-hezbollah-domination|accessdate=21 February 2016|agency=Associated Press|date=21 February 2016}}</ref> due to his disapproval of the influence of Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite political group, in the Lebanese government. Rifi quit by order of Saudi Arabia according to the assertions of [[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]] while they pulled a $3-billion deal to equip the Lebanese security forces and blamed Hezbollah's influence for preventing Lebanon from backing Saudi Arabia in the Gulf kingdom, saying it was "destroying Lebanon's relations with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia."<ref>{{Cite web|title = Lebanon minister quits over 'Hezbollah domination'|url = http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/02/lebanon-minister-quits-hezbollah-domination-160221141103731.html|website = alJazeera.org|access-date = 2017-09-04|language = en-us}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Lebanese justice minister resigns, blames Hezbollah over deadlock, court case|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-lebanon-idUSKCN0VU0EL|work=Reuters|date=21 February 2016 |access-date=2017-09-04}}</ref>
In April 2021, he heavily criticized Hezbollah, calling them a collaborator of "mini-Nazi" [[Iran]] and an enemy to Lebanon.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.memri.org/tv/fmr-lebanon-minister-justice-ashraf-rifi-hizbullah-collaborator-mini-nazi-enemy-weapons-hegemony-removed-switzerland |title=Former Lebanese Minister Of Justice Ashraf Rifi: Hizbullah Is A Collaborator Of 'Mini-Nazi' Iran, Enemy Of Lebanon; It Is Leading Lebanon To Suicide |website=Middle East Media Research Institute |date=2 April 2021 }}</ref>
Ashraf Rifi ran in the [[2022 Lebanese general election|2022 general elections]] as part of a [[Lebanese Forces]]-supported list in the [[North II|North II district]] and managed to win one of the Sunni seats in Tripoli. In May 2023, Rifi launched the [[Sanad Movement]] which would work under the principles of sovereignty and democracy and vowed to lift Iranian grip over Lebanon.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 May 2023 |title=Rifi launches the "Sanad Movement" party: Our priority is to lift the Iranian grip on Lebanon (In Arabic) |url=https://aawsat.com/home/article/4303826/%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%B7%D9%84%D9%82-%D%208%AD%D8%B2%D8%A8-%C2%AB%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%AF%C2%BB-%20%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%84%%20D9%88%D9%8A%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%A7-%D8%B1%D9%81%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A8%%20D8%B6%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%B9%%20D9%86-%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86 |website=Al Sharq Al Aawsat}}</ref>
On 9 June 2023, Ashraf Rifi disclosed to [[OTV (Lebanese TV channel)|OTV]] that he increased the representation of [[Christianity in Lebanon|Lebanese Christians]] in the [[Internal Security Forces]] from 27% to 40.2%.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DeIlUIYkiY&t=394s&ab_channel=OTVLebanon|title=اشرف ريفي في حلقة نارية|website=[[YouTube]] |date=5 June 2023 }}</ref> During the [[2025 Lebanese municipal elections|2025 municipal elections]] he also expressed concerns over the lack of Christian and Alawite representation in the Tripoli Municipal Council and also supported splitting [[Beirut]] into 2 separate Muslim and Christian councils to improve Christian representation in the city.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-11 |title=Municipal elections: Final voter turnout stands at 35.9% in North Lebanon and 47.3% in Akkar {{!}} LIVE |url=https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1459596/municipal-elections-voting-underway-in-north-lebanon-and-akkar-aoun-calls-it-a-positive-signal-to-the-international-community-live.html |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=L'Orient Today |language=en}}</ref>
== Personal life == Rifi is married to Salima Adeeb and together have 4 children. He is a Sunni Muslim.<ref name=":0" />
==Awards== The Arab Organization for Administrative Development for the Arab League and the Tatweej Academy for Excellence and Quality awarded Rifi the title of ''Man of the Year 2011'' in [[Arab world|the Arab world]] for his leadership in security in December 2011.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rifi gets Arab 'Man of the Year 2011' award|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2011/Dec-07/156211-rifi-gets-arab-man-of-the-year-2011-award.ashx#axzz29m2blrIw|accessdate=21 October 2012|newspaper=The Daily Star|date=7 December 2011}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|33em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rifi, Ashraf}} [[Category:1954 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Politicians from Tripoli, Lebanon]] [[Category:Lebanese Sunni politicians]] [[Category:Lebanese University alumni]] [[Category:Justice ministers of Lebanon]] [[Category:Members of the Parliament of Lebanon]]