Prime Minister Tammam Salam said on Tuesday that the Islamic religion is under a fierce attack by obscurantist takfiri groups, stressing that the Lebanese government is doing its utmost to combat terrorism.
In a speech delivered at the inauguration of newly-elected Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Daryan, Salam recounted the Arsal incidents which claimed the lives of numerous martyrs and left Lebanese troops in captivity.
“We will continue to exert efforts and we won’t rest until all soldiers return safely to their families,” Salam said in his speech at the Mohammad Al-Amin mosque in Downtown Beirut.
Lebanon’s cabinet is facing terrorism, Salam said, adding that Dar al-Fatwa and all religious institutions shall be responsible of uprooting the takfiri ideology.
For his part the Vice- President of the Higher Islamic Shiite Council Sheikh Abdel Amir Qabalan said that Lebanon's weapons must remain in the hands of state institutions and the army.
This as Druze Sheikh al-Aql Naim Hassan urged the Lebanese leaders and people to stand united and protect Lebanon's national values and principles. He also called for the swift election of a new president.
In turn, Maronite Bishop of Beirut Boulos Matar voiced readiness to cooperate with the Higher Islamic Council and Dar al-Fatwa to end the deadlock in the country.
Meanwhile, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Daryan said that the circumstances in the region require a stance in which words of moderation must rise up in the face of extremism.
He also called for protecting religion, the state and its citizens, who have suffered and are still suffering from weapons and armed men "who violate state authority, coexistence and civil peace."
Last month, the Higher Islamic Council elected the head of the Sunnite Sharia Supreme Court of Lebanon Sheikh Abdel Latif Daryan (61) as Lebanon's new Grand Mufti.
Daryan obtained 74 of the votes of members while 9 others voted for the Head of the Sunnite Court in Baabda, Judge Sheikh Ahmad Darwish al-Kurdi, 8 voters cast blank ballots and 2 votes were canceled.
Following his election, Sheikh Daryan said that he will start consultations with all political and religious leaders to discuss ways "to confront evil."
"Our experience pushes us towards moderation as extremism will never have positive impacts," he added.
The Higher Islamic Council -- which elects the Mufti and organizes Dar al-Fatwa's issues – became the center of debates in 2012 after 21 members, who are close to the Future movement, extended its mandate until 2015 despite the objection of then Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani.
The Mufti later held elections for the Council, which were considered illegal by former Prime Ministers Fouad Siniora and Najib Mikati who argued that the elections violated Shura Council decisions and did not have a legal quorum.
Qabbani's mandate ended yesterday, after reaching the legal age of 73.
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