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Recent Appearances... Rantburg

Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Qabbani Rejects Election of Sheikh Daryan as his Successor
2014-08-02
[An Nahar] Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani
... 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 orchestrated by 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.
rejects the election of head of the Sunni Sharia Supreme Court of Leb Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan as his successor.

"I am sure that Daryan might be forced despite my rejection, but I will not give my blessing despite all the guarantees," As Safir newspaper quoted Qabbani as saying on Friday.
Link


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Several Members of HIC Led by Qabbani Resign Ending Crisis
2014-07-23
[An Nahar] Several members of the Higher Islamic Council led by Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani
... 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 orchestrated by 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.
resigned on Tuesday thus ending a three-year war that sought the division of the highest Sunni authority in Leb.

Fifteen members had so far submitted their resignations thus suspending the works of the HIC headed by Qabbani.

Six members of the resigned body said on Tuesday in a statement: "Nine members had already resigned from the newly formed 32-member formed council by Qabbani... And our resignation prompts the council to dissolve."

"We were never chasing after personal interests or seeking rift between the two councils... We were seeking to bridge the gap between the two foes," the statement pointed out.

It added that the members are "keen to preserve the Sunni sect's highest interest."

"Our decision came in light of our attempt to avert the possible election of two Muftis due to the ongoing rift."

"Our collective resignation dissolves this council."

The members were identified as: Mwafaq al-Rouwas, Talal Majzoub, Saleh al-Dsouqi, Fouad Matraji, Rabih Qaterji, Mohammed Sinno, Bassem Assaf, Moustapha Qorra, Hammam Ziyadeh, Moustapha Banouk, Hani Qabbani, Omar Tarabah, Amir Raad, Haitham Fawwal and Saad Eddine Anouti.

Recently the battle between the HIC led by Qabbani and another headed by his deputy Sheikh Omar Misqawi intensified after the two bodies filed lawsuits against each other.

Both lawsuits include charges of impersonation.

The Grand Mufti had also challenged the legality of the council led by Misqawi in April.

Earlier in July, the body led by Misqawi charged the members of the council headed by Qabbani with having an "illegal status."

Article 370 of the law states that the charges against the HIC led by Qabbani could lead to a year in prison if the member was employed and to three years in jail if the member was unemployed.

Misqawi's council also accused head of Dar al-Fatwa's Islamic Endowments, Sheikh Hisham Khalifeh, who is loyal to Qabbani, of sectarian incitement, the endorsement of stances that violate the Shura Council decisions deeming them as "unbinding" and of making a void call for the election of a new Grand Mufti in August.

In June, Sheikh Khalifeh called for electing a new Grand Mufti in August, but this announcement was met with the opposition of the council led by Misqawi, who demanded the elections to be held as soon as possible.

Qabbani's term ends on September 15.

The dispute between the council led by Qabbani and that of his deputy Misqawi is the result of political interference.

The Higher Islamic Council -- which elects the Mufti and organizes Dar al-Fatwa's affairs — became the center of controversy in 2012 after 21 of its members, who are close to al-Mustaqbal
... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri...
movement, extended its term until 2015 despite Qabbani's objection.

The Mufti later held elections for the Council, which were deemed illegal by ex-PMs Saniora and Najib Miqati, and the group led by Misqawi, who argued that the polls violated Shura Council decisions and did not enjoy a legal quorum.

Link


Olde Tyme Religion
Sunday First Day of Ramadan, Announces Mufti Qabbani
2014-06-28
[AnNahar] Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani
... 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 orchestrated by 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.
announced on Friday evening that Sunday, June 29, is the first day of the holy month of Ramadan.

Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
had confirmed earlier in the day that Saturday will be the last day of the month of Shaaban on the Islamic calendar, after observers failed to sight the crescent of Ramadan.

The holy month will also begin on Sunday in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, religious authorities announced.

The month begins with the sighting of the new moon, which varies from country to country.

Ramadan is sacred to Mohammedans because it is during that month that tradition says the Koran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed.

During Ramadan, Mohammedans fast from dawn to dusk and strive to be more pious and charitable.

The fast is one of the five main religious obligations under Islam.
Link


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Lebanon Could Have 2 Grand Muftis over Dar al-Fatwa Differences
2014-06-14
[An Nahar] Leb is faced with the possibility of having two grand muftis after the rival Higher Islamic Councils called on Thursday for a new head to the country's Sunni sect, al-Akhbar newspaper reported.

"There would either be two muftis or Learned Elders of Islams would make a last-minute interference to find a settlement," al-Akhbar quoted informed sources as saying.

But Dar al-Fatwa officials said no solution was looming in the horizon.

The dispute between the council led by Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani
... 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 orchestrated by 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.
and that of his deputy Omar Misqawi is the result of political interferences.

The Higher Islamic Council -- which elects the Mufti and organizes Dar al-Fatwa's affairs -- became the center of controversy in 2012 after 21 of its members, who are close to al-Mustaqbal
... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri...
movement, extended its term until 2015 despite Qabbani's objection.

The Mufti later held elections for the Council, which were deemed illegal by ex-PMs Saniora and Najib Miqati, and the group led by Misqawi, who argued that the polls violated Shura Council decisions and did not enjoy a legal quorum.

On Thursday, the two councils called for the election of a Mufti before the expiry of his term on Sept. 15.

Mount Leb Mufti Sheikh Mohammed al-Jouzo told the Saudi Okaz daily that the invitation for the election of a grand mufti by Qabbani's council came in conformity with decree 18 of the by-laws which had been announced by Qabbani.

"We shouldn't focus on the details as long as his term is nearing to end because any dispute on the issue would reflect negatively on the Sunni sect in Leb," he said.

Former Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss has also defended the decision of Qabbani's council to call for elections.
Link


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Lebanese Officials Condemn Dahiyeh Attack, Vow to Confront Terrorism
2014-02-20
[An Nahar] Lebanese officials strongly denounced on Wednesday the double suicide kaboom that targeted Beirut's southern suburbs, which killed at least four people and injured 100 others and was claimed by al-Qaeda affiliated Abdullah Azzam Brigades
... Leb's current al-Qaeda affiliate, named after a guy whose car the current head of al-Qaeda had boomed...

President Michel Suleiman
...before assuming office as President, he held the position of commander of the Leb Armed Forces. That was after the previous commander, the loathesome Emile Lahoud, took office as president in November of 1998. Likely the next president of Leb will be whoever's commander of the armed forces, too...
condemned the attack, saying: "There can be no salvation from terrorism except through complete solidarity among the people regardless of their political affiliations."

"Terrorism does not differentiate between regions and religions, but it only seeks death and destruction," he added.

Earlier the president had contacted Iranian Ambassador to Leb Ghazanfar Rokn-Abadi to offer his condolences over the bombing that took place near the Iranian Cultural Center.

He also contacted Interior Minister Nuhad Mashnouq and Kuwaiti Ambassador to Leb Abdul Aal al-Qinai.

Speaker Nabih Knobby Berri
Speaker of the Lebanese parliament, a member of AMAL, a not very subtle Hizbullah sock puppet...
meanwhile urged the "greatest level of vigilance and caution" in confronting the series of bombings that have targeted Leb.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam slammed the twin kabooms, considering them a "message by the terrorist groups to continue its plot in spreading absurd deaths in Leb."

"Amid the positive political stances... Terrorism once again hit Leb by bombing a safe neighborhood in a message that reflects the insistence of the evil powers to harm Leb and the Lebanese and to create sedition."

He noted that the Lebanese will "respond to it with more unity, solidarity, by holding on to our civil peace and supporting our army and security forces."

Bir Hassan is surrounded by neighborhood that are strongholds of the Hizbullah and have been targeted in multiple kabooms killing civilians.

Leb has been rocked by a string of car and suicide kabooms in recent months, many targeting strongholds of Hizbullah in apparent retribution for its role in Syria.

The group has admitted sending fighters to the neighboring country to battle alongside Syria's Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Supressor of the Damascenes...
against an uprising.

For his part, Hizbullah's Industry Minister Hussein al-Hajj Hassan called on the Lebanese to tighten their grip on national stances and to confront terrorism.

Interior Minister Mashnouq said from the blast scene that the kaboom targets all the Lebanese people and the government will take the necessary measures to tackle the situation.

"The cabinet will take all the necessary measure to end the phenomena of suicide attacks," Mashnouq added.

Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil stressed that "terrorism is targeting all the Lebanese. We must put an end to it."

Labor Minister Sejaan Qazzi said that the suicide kabooms that targeted the area aims at destabilizing Leb, stressing that security should be a priority.

He called on the Lebanese people to be aware of the dangerous stage the country is passing through and to unite in order to confront terrorism.

Head of the Free Patriotic Movement
Despite its name a Christian party allied with Hizbullah, neither free nor particularly patriotic...
MP Michel Aoun
...a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hizbullah...
said via twitter that "gunnies were bothered by the formation of the cabinet after they became convinced that it would fight them."

Al-Mustaqbal
... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri...
Movement Chief Saad Hariri
Second son of Rafik Hariri, the Leb PM who was assassinated in 2005. He has was prime minister in his own right from 2009 through early 2011. He was born in Riyadh to an Iraqi mother and graduated from Georgetown University. He managed his father's business interests in Riyadh until his father's assassination. When his father died he inherited a fortune of some $4.1 billion, which won't do him much good if Hizbullah has him bumped off, too.
said that "if the aim behind the attack is to inform the Lebanese that their country isn't immune to terrorism despite the formation of the cabinet then we will hold on to our unity today more than ever."

"We condemn the attacks with the strongest rhetoric," Hariri said in a statement, calling on security forces to pursue the culprits.

He urged the Lebanese for more solidarity and to allow the cabinet to carry out its responsibilities during this delicate situation.

Hariri reiterated calls on the Lebanese to dissociate itself from the conflict in Syria and on Hizbullah to withdraw its fighters from the ongoing war in the neighboring country and to abide by the Baabda Declaration.

Lebanese Forces
A Christian political party founded by Bashir Gemayel, who was then bumped off when he was elected president of Leb...
leader Samir Geagea
... Geagea was imprisoned by the Syrians and their puppets for 11 years in a dungeon in the third basement level of the Lebanese Ministry of Defense. He was released after the Cedar Revolution in 2005 ...
later condemned in a statement the Bir Hassan bombing, calling for Hizbullah to withdraw its fighters from Syria.

"We had previously predicted that the situation in Leb will not change with the formation of a new government," he added.

"The situation will change when the policies of previous governments are altered," he explained.

He demanded that the border between Leb and Syria be controlled in order to thwart the flow gunnies, offering his condolences to the victims of the blast.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani
... 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 orchestrated by 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.
also denounced the attack, calling on Salam's cabinet to "swiftly control the situation in Leb and reduce tension and all forms of incitement to confront the upcoming stage as a one hand.

Head of the Phalange Party
The Kataeb (Phalange) party was founded by Pierre Gemayel in 1936, who modeled the party after Spanish and Italian Fascist parties he had observed as an Olympic athlete during the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin, then Nazi Germany. The movement's uniforms originally included brown shirts and members used the Nazi salute. Despite the party's uniform, its strong sense of nationalism and dedication to a single charismatic leader, the Lebanese Kataeb was not and never became a fascist party nor did it espouse a totalitarian ideology.
Amin Gemayel said: "The Bir Hassan bombing is a bloody message aimed at terrorizing the new cabinet that is an embodiment of national will."

"The best way to respond to the bombings lies in activating government work and seizing control of the security situation," he added.
Link


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Qabbani Blames Extremism on Attacks on 'Moderate' Dar al-Fatwa, Failure to Resolve Islamists' Case
2014-01-28
[An Nahar] Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani
... 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 orchestrated by 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.
"The file of Islamists has been one of the reasons for the rise of extremism," he said in reference to suspects, who were placed in durance vile
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.
Link


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Qabbani: Divisions Will Drag Lebanon towards Sectarian Conflicts
2014-01-13
[An Nahar] Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani
... 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 orchestrated by 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.
noted on Sunday that Leb is passing through a very dangerous and critical phase.

He warned: "Divisions among the Lebanese will pave the way to dragging them towards sectarian conflicts."

He made his remarks on the occasion of the Prophet Mohammed's birthday, which falls on Monday.

"The wise and reasonable people among us must realize the sensitivity of the situation in Leb because maintaining the country's stability and security is everyone's responsibility," stressed Qabbani.

Furthermore, he said that any action that does not enjoy the consensus of all powers will lead to fragmentation and division among the people.

"The people's unity is crucial in deciding their fate and they should steer clear of statements that incite division," added the mufti.

He hoped that political powers will succeed in forming a government that will revitalize state institutions.
Link


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Hizbullah Delegation Meets Qabbani: Ties with Mufti Constantly Evolving
2014-01-07
[An Nahar] Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani
... 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 orchestrated by 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.
held talks on Monday with a delegation from Hizbullah that condemned the recent assault against the holy man.

Sheikh Abdul Majid Ammar of Hizbullah said after the talks: "Ties with the Mufti are constantly evolving."

"Our visit was aimed at checking on the well-being of the Mufti in light of assault and we relayed to him the regards of Hizbullah chief His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah
The satrap of the Medes and the Persians in Leb...
," he continued.

"The assault against the holy man does not reflect the morals and values of the sect he represents," he added, while slamming political rhetoric "that is aimed at creating strife."

Asked by news hounds if the incitement against Qabbani stems from his ties with Hizbullah, Ammar replied: "Our relations with the Mufti are constantly evolving despite all attempts to tarnish them."

The ties will remain based on common values "and therefore all attempts to harm this relationship will fail", he remarked.

Qabbani on December 29 attended the funeral of Mohammed Chaar, a youth killed during the December 27 Starco blast in downtown Beirut.

Mourners at the funeral were angered by his arrival and began chanting slogans against him, prompting members of the Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau's Strike Force to escort him out of the al-Khasheqji Mosque where the funeral was being held.

Qabbani considered that the protesters were seeking to "kill him" upon his arrival at the premises.

The Mufti's ties with al-Mustaqbal
... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri...
deteriorated last year when he met with a delegation from Hizbullah the same day the Special Tribunal for Leb indicted four party members in former Premier Rafik Hariri's February 2005 liquidation.

Relations between the two sides were also shaken when the Mufti met with Syrian Ambassador Ali Abdul Karim Ali, whom al-Mustaqbal and the March 14 opposition alliance have on several occasions said should be expelled.
Link


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Hizbullah Slams Assault on Mufti as 'Cheap Attempt at Political Exploitation'
2013-12-31
[An Nahar] Hizbullah on Monday strongly condemned what it described as a "flagrant assault" on Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani
... 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 during 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 orchestrated by 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.
, after the religious leader was trapped Sunday by an angry mob inside a Beirut mosque for several hours.

"Verbal attacks on religious leaderships are a deplorable attempt to introduce expressions that are alien to our Arab and Islamic culture which respects and revers scholars," the party said in a statement.
Link


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
ISF Commandos Evacuate Qabbani from al-Khasheqji Mosque as Uproar Erupts over His Arrival
2013-12-30
[An Nahar] Members of the ISF Intelligence Bureau's Strike Force on Sunday managed to evacuate Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani from the al-Khasheqji Mosque after a number of young men erupted in anger over his arrival to take part in the funeral of Mohammed al-Chaar, a 16-year-old teenager who was killed in the kaboom that targeted ex-minister Mohammed Shatah.

A major commotion broke out inside and outside the mosque as protesters shouted angry slogans in scenes broadcast live by local TV stations.

Security forces carried out several fake evacuations in a bid to divert the attention of the protesters before they managed to secure the safe exit of the mufti in a military armored personnel carrier, amid strict security measures in the area.

Media reports said a Mustaqbal
... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri...
newspaper photographer was injured in the stampede outside the mosque and security forces transferred him to hospital.

"Calm has returned to the vicinity of the al-Khasheqji Mosque and some security forces have started to leave," MTV reported later.

"A number of young men protested the presence of the mufti ... and Sheikh Ahmed al-Omar led the prayer for the dead," state-run National News Agency reported earlier on Sunday.

LBCI television said a number of Mustaqbal Movement MPs entered the mosque to persuade the mufti not to lead the prayer and he accepted.

"Young men have gathered outside to express their anger over his presence," trapping the mufti inside for several hours, LBCI said.

In an earlier interview with LBCI, Jamaa Islamiya official in Beirut Rabih Dandashi said: "We contacted the commander of Beirut Police and we're trying to reach a solution to secure the safe exit of the mufti."

"It is unacceptable to assault the mufti and Mustaqbal MPs are inside trying to calm down the young men," said Dandashi.

"We are in charge of the logistics of the funeral and had the mufti sensed the delicacy of the situation, we would've advised him not to come," he noted.

Meanwhile,
...back at the barn, a little lightbulb figuratively appeared over Bossy's head...
Dar al-Fatwa sources told al-Jadeed television that they hold the defense ministry responsible for the safety of the mufti.

The funeral was attended by several Beirut figures, officials, popular delegations and the slain teenager's family and friends.

Chaar was then laid to rest at the nearby Martyrs Cemetery.

The 16-year-old died Saturday of wounds incurred in the Starco kaboom. A picture of him and three friends taken moments before the kaboom has gone viral on social networking websites.

The booby-trapped, golden Honda CRV used in the attack appears behind the teenagers in the picture.

The kaboom took place on Friday morning in downtown Beirut, leaving Shatah, his bodyguard and six other people dead.
Link


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
3 Arrested after Clash between Rival Gunmen in Beirut
2013-10-16
[An Nahar] The army said it incarcerated
Maw! They're comin' to get me, Maw!
on Tuesday three suspects in connection with a shootout between rival gunnies in the Beirut neighborhood of Tariq al-Jedideh.

The army communique did not identify the gunnies but said that they exchanged gunfire with light arms during a dispute near al-Makassed hospital at 9:15 am.

It said the army drew a tight dragnet in the area and raided several locations that led to the arrest of three people.

The military is pursuing the rest of the suspects to apprehend them and refer them to the judiciary, the communique added.

The state-run National News Agency described the dispute as "personal."

Some media reports said however that the parties involved in the clash included members of Hizbullah's Resistance Brigades and gunnies from Tariq al-Jedideh.

They did not provide details as to why the two sides fought.

But LBCI TV said the dispute was between supporters of Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani and parties that oppose him.

It said a man identified as Abu Ali Shamleh, an official who is in charge of groups allied with Hizbullah, had opened fire and used hand grenades during the clash.
Link


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Mufti Qabbani Urges Lebanese to 'Wake Up,' Warns against Sunni-Shiite Strife
2013-08-24
[An Nahar] Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani stressed on Friday that Shiites in the country have no links to the deadly bombings in the northern city of Tripoli
...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn...

"Moslems must know that the blast in the southern suburbs of Beirut was not executed by Sunnis and today's bombings in Tripoli were not orchestrated by Shiites," Qabbani said in a televised speech.

He added: "Those who want to drag Leb into the regional conflict are the parties behind both blasts."

"This is a call for Lebanese of all sects to be aware of this terrorist message. They must wake up from their slumber."

"Terrorism is the most powerful weapon of the conspiracy against Leb and sedition the easiest road to burn down the region"

The Mufti reminded the Lebanese of "their enmity with the Jews."

"Although you have your differences, you must not, however, forget your enmity with the Jews and be aware of what they are planning for you," he noted.

"It is in the interest of the Jews to create divisions and segregation between the Lebanese."
Link



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