Brigitte Gabriel biography, net worth, husband, married, divorce, website

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<h2>Early Life and the Lebanese Civil War</h2>
<p>Brigitte Gabriel, born on October 21, 1964, in Lebanon's Marjeyoun district, is a Lebanese-American <a href="/biography/brigitte-gabriel">author</a> and journalist. Raised in a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity">Christian</a> household, Gabriel lived through the Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990). The conflict began when gunmen attempted to assassinate Maronite Christian Phalangist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Gemayel">leader</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Gemayel">Pierre Gemayel</a>, prompting retaliation by Phalangist forces who ambushed a Palestinian bus, killing 27 passengers. The incident triggered prolonged clashes between Palestinian-Muslim militias and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity">Christian</a> Phalangist groups, marking the war's outset.</p>

<p>Gabriel states that during the war, she and her family were forced to live in an underground shelter for seven years, lacking basic amenities such as sanitation, electricity, or running water. She recounts being aided by Israeli forces during Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon, stating that Israeli medical staff treated individuals regardless of their religious or political affiliations. Describing the experience, Gabriel said: “Each patient was treated solely according to the nature of his or her injury. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israelis">Israelis</a> did not see religion, political affiliation, or nationality. They saw only people in need, and they helped.”</p>

<h2>Relocation to Israel and Early Career</h2>
<p>After fleeing the conflict, Gabriel lived in Israel from 1984 to 1989. She enrolled in a business administration program through the Young Women’s Christian Association. In 1986, she began her media career under the pseudonym Nour Semaan as a news anchor for Middle East Television (METV), an Arabic-language <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity">Christian</a> broadcasting network. During her tenure, she anchored the station’s Arabic-language evening news, World News.</p>

<p>Gabriel later married an American colleague and emigrated to the United States. There, she established a television production and advertising company while embracing her new homeland. Reflecting on her journey, she said, “I lost Lebanon, my country of birth, to radical Islam. I do not intend to lose my adopted country, America.”</p>

<h2>Books and Public Statements on Islam</h2>
<p>Gabriel is known for her outspoken views on Islam and terrorism. Her two books, <em>Because They Hate: A Survivor of Islamic Terror Warns America</em> and <em>They Must Be Stopped: Why We Must Defeat Radical Islam and How We Can Do It</em>, have drawn criticism for generalizing an entire religion. Publications such as <em>The New York Times</em> and <em>The Washington Post</em> described her works as presenting alarmist portrayals of Islam. Gabriel maintains that her focus is on "radical Islam" rather than Islam as a whole, yet critics argue that the tone of her writing and public speeches often conveys a broader condemnation.</p>

<p>In 2009, Gabriel stated that "Islam promotes intolerance and violence" and called for moderates within the Muslim community to lead reform efforts similar to those undertaken in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity">Christianity</a> and Judaism. She has referred to extremist ideologies as a “cancer called Islamofascism” and erroneously cited intelligence services estimating radicals make up 15 to 25 percent of the global Muslim population—an assertion debunked by the <em>Christian Science Monitor</em>.</p>

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<h2>Views on Radical Islam and the Middle East</h2>
<p>In a 2014 speech, Gabriel described Israel as the frontline defender in the global fight against Islamic terrorism. She likened Israel’s battles against Hamas and Hezbollah to the broader international struggle against groups like ISIS. Additionally, she opposed imposing a two-state solution without what she described as significant reform among the Palestinian leadership, emphasizing the need to eliminate messages of intolerance in Palestinian educational materials and public discourse.</p>

<p>Gabriel claimed in interviews that devout Muslims who strictly follow Islamic texts and rituals could be considered radicals. Statements like these have drawn considerable backlash, reinforcing her image among critics as promoting anti-Muslim rhetoric rather than targeting extremists specifically.</p>

<h2>ACT for America and Public Perception</h2>
<p>Gabriel is the <a href="/biography/brigitte-gabriel">founder</a> of ACT for America, a national security-focused organization she characterizes as nonpartisan and nonreligious. However, various organizations, including the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, label it as one of the most powerful anti-Muslim advocacy groups in the country. According to <em>The Guardian</em>, ACT for America is widely identified as propagating anti-Muslim sentiment.</p>

<p>In 2004, Gabriel delivered a controversial talk at Duke University, where she reportedly referred to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabs">Arabs</a> as "barbarians," sparking public apologies from event organizers. At a 2007 conference hosted by Christians United for Israel, she made similarly inflammatory remarks, contrasting the morality of Israel with what she described as the “barbarism” of the Arab world.</p>

<h2>Criticism and Response</h2>
<p>Gabriel has consistently denied being anti-Muslim, affirming that she opposes ideologies that threaten democratic values and human rights, regardless of the religion involved. “I would fight with the same passion if crazy <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity">Christians</a> were trying to do that, if crazy <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews">Jews</a> were trying to do that,” she stated, defending her position as rooted in defense of freedom and human dignity. She added that many Muslims are peaceful and unfamiliar with extremist interpretations of their faith.</p>

<h2>Political Influence and Legacy</h2>
<p>Gabriel and her organization have reportedly had access to influential political circles, particularly during the <a href="/biography/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a> administration. In late 2017, Gabriel claimed that ACT for America had a “direct line” to the former president. Reports from <em>Vox</em> detailed links between high-level <a href="/biography/donald-trump">Trump</a> appointees, including <a href="/biography/john-bolton">John Bolton</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Pompeo">Mike Pompeo</a>, and various anti-Islamic writers and activists such as Gabriel.</p>

<p>Analysts and commentators have raised concerns about her organization’s growing influence. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Beinart">Peter Beinart</a> of <em>The Atlantic</em> described her as "America's most prominent anti-Muslim activist," while <em>BuzzFeed News</em> called her the “most influential leader in America’s increasingly influential anti-Islam lobby.” Despite the controversy, Gabriel has built a substantial platform among those concerned about national security and terrorism.</p>

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