... Grand Mufti of Lebanon and the most prominent Sunni Muslim cleric in the country. An assassination attempt against Qabbani was foiled by Leb internal security forces in 2009 as part of the Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Beirut. In an interview broadcast in 2012, Qabbani stated that Jews were behind secularism, because they opposed the authority of the church, against Christianity.He also suggested that the attacks of September 11, 2001 were
orchestratedby Jews in order
to justify the persecution of Muslims worldwide.Qabbani is against the legalization of civil marriage in Lebanon. He has issued a fatwa declaring any Muslim politician who approves civil marriage legislation an apostate. Surprisingly, he is not considered very much of a nut by Moslem standards.
said Monday that extremism rose in Leb over the failure to resolve the file of Islamists held in Roumieh prison and attempts to topple Dar al-Fatwa's "moderate role."
| You've got to love something that translates as Land of the Fatwa. |
Drop the gat, Rocky, or you're a dead 'un!
during Fatah al-Islam
A Syrian-incubated al-Qaeda work-alike that they think can be turned off if no longer needed to keep the Lebanon pot stirred.
's battles with the Lebanese army in the northern refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared in 2007.
The spirit of vengeance grew among them over the years, Qabbani said in an address to the Lebanese.
"The attempts to topple the moderate role of Dar al-Fatwa was another reason," he said.
"We reject turning Dar al-Fatwa into a tool in anyone's hands," he said in a veiled reference to al-Mustaqbal
... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri...
movement, whose ties with the Mufti deteriorated over the years.
Qabbani urged the Lebanese to form an all-embracing cabinet and make sure to elect a president on time.
"Beware of vacuum," he said, adding "be keen on your nation and its moderation."
Qabbani supported national unity and called for dialogue to resolve the country's crises.
"Our Constitution, which is based on the Taef Accord, hasn't been placed to organize the division of shares. It has been placed to have participation," he said in his address. "Our coexistence includes everyone."
Addressing Arab and Islamic leaders, Qabbani said: "You should salvage your countries from fighting and destruction ... You could salvage the future of your countries and prevent foreigners from imposing solutions on you."
"Those foreigners are plotting attacks to diminish the powers of the resistance and divide the region into weak sectarian states," he warned.
The U.S. succeeded in creating infighting in these countries but it would not emerge victorious, he said.
Qabbani urged the Lebanese to confront the plot and find consensual and centrist solutions to salvage the nation before it was too late.
Such a plot aims at making Israel the hegemonic power in the region, he said.
"As Arab nations are engaged in infighting, Israel builds more Jewish settlements, brings in more Jewish immigrants and expels the Paleostinian landowners," the Mufti added.