Mikati decries Sidon's Dar al-Fatwa's dispute

Mufti Salim Sousan said on Tuesday that he did not hand over the authority of the Dar el-Fatwa to Sheikh Mohammad Nassar, adding that as soon as he entered the Higher Islamic Council on Tuesday, he saw the latter along with 40 armed men sitting in the office.     

“I had never thought that Sheikh Nassar would come to the Dar in company of gunmen,” Sousan said.                      

Sousan added that an unpleasant incident may have erupted, but “he is keen on the city’s security”.                       

“Tomorrow I will be heading to the Dar al-Fatwa to carry out my duties as a Mufti. Sheikh Nassar should carry out his duties as an employee, or else this issue will be tackled judicially,” he concluded.               

Earlier on Tuesday, the Information Branch handed over the security of the Dar al-Fawta in Sidon to the Internal Security Forces.                  

Meanwhile, Mufti Mohammad Rashid Qabbani contacted the Lebanese Armed Forces Chief, Major General Jean Kahwaji, asking him to task the LAF with the security of the said Dar.                    

It is worth noting that a dispute erupted when security forces prevented Sheikhs affiliated with Mufti Mohammad Nassar from entering into the Higher Islamic Council and implemented tight security measures in its vicinity.          

A debate had been emerging since the Mufti of the Republic Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani appointed Sheikh Mohammad Nassar the new Mufti of Sidon, as a successor to the Mufti Salim Sousan.            

Earlier, a meeting was held on Tuesday between Sheikhs Sousan and Nassar at the Dar al-Fawta in Sidon, in an attempt to find a solution to the problem.        

Following the meeting, Sheikh Sousan declared that he will remain in his position, calling on everyone affected by this fact to "file a lawsuit".                    

For his part, Nassar stressed that he is the official Mufti of Sidon, upon the decision of Mufti Qabbani, noting that he will continue his work at Dar al-Fatwa.            

Meanwhile, Sheikh Khaldoun Oraymet told LBCI that gunmen allegedly affiliated with Mufti Nassar, stormed Sidon's Dar al-Fatwa claiming to be Mufti Nassar’s bodyguards, only to later be escorted outside the premises of the Higher Islamic Council by security forces.                   

This as sources reported that security forces also stormed Sidon's Dar al-Fatwa to escort Mufti Nassar out of the building, after reportedly detecting weapons with his bodyguards.        

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati voiced his regret over the "danger intimidating the Sunnites in Lebanon, mainly regarding the position of the mufti of Sidon".           

He asserted that any appointment violating decree-law NO. 18/55 in article 29 of the procedures of electing Muftis in Lebanon is considered null.                   

He added that the Higher Islamic Council issued a decision in which it extended the mandate of the Mufti of Sidon, Sheikh Salim Sousan, until the elections of new Muftis for the vacant positions are held.                   

However, Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani had freshly appointed Sheikh Ahmad Nassar as the new Mufti of Sidon, drawing sharp rebuke of the current Mufti, Sheikh Salim Sussan, who refused to stop assuming his mission.         

Last year, the Shura Council suspended a call for the elections of the Higher Islamic Council after its members, who are close to former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, raised an appeal against Qabbani'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 objection of Mufti Qabbani, who  argues that the extension is illegal and the council’s term has expired.    

Subsequently, the Mufti made his allocations amid the discontent of the members of the council.