Mr. Kablan speaking at St. Sharbel iftar shortly before he fainted. PHOTO: Nafeh AbuNab

WARREN - At an iftar dinner on Thursday night hosted by St. Sharbel Maronite Church here, Consul General of Lebanon to Detroit Bilal Kabalan fainted while addressing a crowd of community members and leaders. 

He was transferred to the hospital where his condition was reported as being stable as of midnight Thursday. He was expected to stay overnight for observation. A local physician attending the iftar told The Arab American News that Mr. Kabalan most likely suffering from dehydration and exhaustion. 

Mr. Kabalan was released from the hospital later Friday morning, and he returned to his home and was asked by doctors to get some rest.

The iftar dinner was attended by about 300 community leaders and organization representatives including Muslim and Christian clergyman and organized by the church in the spirit of Lebanese Patriarch Peter Bechara Rai’s recent visit and message of peace and collaboration among the two religious communities. 

The church’s iftar is considered to be the first of its kind among Lebanese Americans in metro-Detroit.