REPORT: HIC holds first meeting in the Mohammad al-Amin mosque

The Higher Islamic Council decided on Saturday to take the Mohammad al-Amin mosque in Downtown Beirut as the temporary headquarter of the Council.

The Secretary General of the Council Sheikh Khaldoun Oraymet told LBCI that the council took such decision after Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani refused to hold a meeting with the council in Dar al-Fatwa.

Sheikh Oraymet noted that the council held its first meeting in the mosque and discussed several issues.

The Council elects the mufti and organizes the affairs of Dar al-Fatwa, Lebanon’s top Sunnite religious authority.

Last year, the Shura Council suspended a call for the elections after its members, who are close to former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, filed a challenge against Qabbani's call to hold the elections.

Disputes between them rose 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.

On another note, Sheikh Oraymet called for the swift release of the two abducted Syrian bishops and the 12 nuns in Syria's Maaloula.

The two Syrian bishops kidnapped by gunmen on Monday April 22nd are still missing, church sources in Damascus and Aleppo said, contradicting a report that the men had been freed.

Pope Francis urged the release of the two Aleppian bishops, 2 days after their disappearance. They have been identified as Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo and Alexandria Boulos Yaziji, and Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo Yuhanna Ibrahim.

As well, 12 nuns were taken by rebels earlier this week from the predominantly Christian town of Maaloula north of Damascus and are still in the rebel-held town of Yabroud.


To watch Nader Fawz's report, please click on the video above.