Now Lebanon - Hezbollah is behind Sayyed’s acts, Jouzou says - September 16, 2010

Mufti of Mount Lebanon Sheikh Mohammed Ali al-Jouzou said on Thursday that Hezbollah pushed former General Security Chief Jamil as-Sayyed to voice his statements on Sunday in an attempt to obstruct the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), the National News Agency (NNA) reported.

Sayyed said on Sunday that “[Prime Minister Saad Hariri] should take a lie detector test to prove he did not support or fund false witnesses in the STL,” investigating the 2005 assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri. He also vowed to take his right “with his own hands.”

Sayyed was detained from 2005 to 2009 on suspicion of involvement in Rafik Hariri’s murder. In April 2009, the tribunal ordered his release without charges due to lack of evidence.

“Hezbollah is supporting [Free Patriotic Movement leader MP] Michel Aoun in attacking the government and the judiciary,” Jouzou said.

“Why is Hezbollah so afraid of the STL if it was confident of its innocence?” he asked.

On Tuesday, Aoun called on Lebanese citizens to not abide by requests from the Internal Security Forces (ISF)—Information Branch or Attorney General Judge Said Mirza, adding that the state is falling and that “the judiciary is burning.”

Jouzou also said that Aoun is verbally attacking the ISF—Information Branch before the FPM leader is defending Israeli spies in Lebanon.

In a fiery speech on September 5, Aoun criticized the government over media leaks stemming from the ISF—Information Branch’s investigation of Brigadier General Fayez Karam, an FPM official arrested August 5 on charges of spying for Israel.

“Aoun is issuing threats instead of being ashamed [of Karam’s arrest],” said Jouzou.