The Assaf family and the Banu Ma'ruf in Sydney held a crowded funeral for the late Sheikh Abu Farid Melhem Assaf, representative of the Mashayakh al-Aql of the Unitarian Druze community. Clergy, politicians, political parties, charitable organizations, and friends from the Arab community and the multicultural Australian society flocked to the Druze Community Center in the suburb of Guildford on Sunday and Tuesday, January 14 and 16, 2024, as noted by the director of the Arab Media Office in Sydney, Akram Al-Maghouch.
Those who attended to offer condolences included the Consul General of Lebanon Charbel Macaron, the Honorary Consul of Syria Maher Dabbagh, and a large crowd of public figures, relatives, and friends.
Speeches were delivered at the funeral by the late Sheikh's son, Lawyer Farid Melhem Assaf, Marwan Nayef Sarieddine, Dr. Imad Berro, and the President of the Druze Association in Sydney, Zahi Allam. A statement from His Eminence Sheikh al-Aql Dr. Sami Abi Al-Muna, sent from Lebanon, was also read.
Following the speeches that praised the legacy of the deceased, the sheikhs performed the funeral prayer before the body was laid to rest at the community cemetery in Rookwood.
