Maronite Patriarch
Beshara al-Rahi condemned on Sunday the various security incidents that had
taken place in Lebanon in recent weeks, saying that the situation has reached
an unacceptable level.
He said during his
Sunday sermon: “We cannot accept the security chaos and the return of militia
practices.”
“We reject the meddling
with civil peace, the violation of human dignity through kidnappings, and the
so-called tribal councils,” he continued.
The kidnappings are a
violation of the state’s administrative, military, and judicial institutions,
he noted.
Furthermore, the
patriarch condemned the “political cover being provided to these heinous
practices.”
“We thank God however
for the blessed efforts that led to the release of one of the Lebanese
kidnapped in Syria,” al-Rahi remarked.
“We hope the remaining
ten pilgrims will be released as well,” he continued.
He also urged the Lebanese
who have kidnapped foreigners in Lebanon to release them “out of respect of
human dignity.”
Hussein Ali Omar, one of
the 11 pilgrims, was released from captivity on Saturday.
The pilgrims were
initially kidnapped in Syria’s Aleppo in May as they were making their way back
to Lebanon from a pilgrimage in Iran.
Al-Meqdad clan’s
military wing had retaliated to the abduction of Hassan al-Meqdad in Syria with
the abduction of several Syrian nationals and a Turkish national.
On Saturday, it released
several of the Syrians in a goodwill gesture in light of Omar’s release.
Addressing the
developments in the northern city of Tripoli, al-Rahi voiced his rejection to
the unrest, “particularly that in Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen.”
He rejected the use of
Tripoli as a “message box over the division over the painful events in Syria.”
“Tripoli and the North
are not areas of extremism, narrow-mindedness, and security chaos,” he
declared.
“The North has long been
the launch pad for Lebanese unity and loyalty,” he added.
The Tripoli clashes
erupted on Monday over an individual dispute which escalated into the Bab
al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen unrest.
The fighting has left at
least nine people dead and 85 wounded.
Commenting on the Syrian
crisis, al-Rahi remarked: “We cannot accept the ongoing circle of violence.”
“It’s unfortunate that
the rightful demand for reform would be turned into a sectarian civil war,” he
added.
“It’s also unfortunate
that attempts would be made to spread this war to Lebanon through Tripoli,” al-Rahi
said.
“Who is responsible for
this and who is benefitting from it?” he asked.http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/51298
No comments:
Post a Comment