Islamic endowments slams rumors on Hezbollah network at Dar al-Fatwa

                         
The director-general of Islamic Endowments slammed on Saturday what described as "a media campaign of lies" about the presence of a Hezbollah network at Dar al-Fatwa.                  
Sheikh Hisham Khalifeh said during a press conference that the rumors were causing divisions among Muslims.                     

Dar al-Fatwa has never belonged to a certain faction,” he said.                    

Khalifeh urged politicians and Sunnis “not to foolow  rumors because Dar al-Fatwa is your house and its loyalty is to the Sunnis, to Muslims, to Lebanon and security forces.”                     
The Sheikh added that Dar al-Fatwa was not  informed by the Shura Council about a decision to suspend the elections of the Higher Islamic Council that Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani had called for.                     

On Thursday, a statement issued by Khalifeh said the elections for the Higher Islamic Council, which chooses the Mufti and organizes the affairs of Dar al-Fatwa, will be held on April 14 despite the alleged decision of the Shura Council to cancel the polls.                      

The Council suspended a call for the elections last year after 21 members of the Higher Islamic Council, who are close to former Prime Minister Saad Hariri's Futurebloc, filed a challenge against Qabbani's invitation to hold the polls.                       

Disputes between them started when the 21 members extended the term of the council until the end of 2013 despite the objection of Qabbani, who argues that the extension is illegal and considers that the council’s term has expired.