Mufti Qabbani calls on new council to modernize Islamic religious institutions

         
Mufti Qabbani hoped on Wednesday that the new council will exert all needed efforts during its term, which will remain in effect even after the end of the Grand Mufti's mandate on the 15th of September 2014, in a bid to modernize the Islamic religious institutions as well as the laws and regulations that serve Lebanon's Muslim community.            

Earlier, former Lebanese Prime Ministers held a meeting at the Grand Serail to discuss the issue of the Dar al-Fatwa elections, in the presence of Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam.           

Simultaneously, the Grand Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Mohammad Rachid Qabbani headed a meeting for the Higher Islamic Council at Dar al-Fatwa whereby he approved the results of the Council's elections which took place on Sunday 14 April, 2013.             

In this context, Mufti Qabbani issued decision "57m/2013" which stipulates the approval of the results of the Higher Islamic Council’s elections that took place on Sunday 14, April 2013 in which representatives of Akkar, Sidon, Hasbayya and Marjeoun and Mount Lebanon provinces were elected.          

It is worth noting that Mufti Qabbani said that he will set another date for the elections in the Bekaa and Tripoli due to the lack of quorum.         

Last year, the Consultative Council also known as the Shura Council suspended a call for the elections after its members, close to former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, challenged the Grand Mufti's call to hold the elections.          

Disputes between them arose when the members extended the mandate of the council until the end of 2013 despite the objections of Mufti Qabbani, who argues that the extension is illegal and the council’s term has expired.