Shiite Clerics Reject Call for Lebanon’s Neutrality, Qabalan Calls it 'Treason'

Arab World

July 18th, 10:22am

Beirut - Nazir Rida

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai greets his audience at the patriarchate in Bkerki, north of Beirut, March 15, 2011 file photo. REUTERS/Wadih Shlink

Maronite Patriarch Beshara Boutros al-Rai urged the Lebanese top authorities to affirm Lebanon’s neutrality “for the sake of the country and the best of all its components.” “The Lebanese do not want any party to unilaterally decide the fate of Lebanon, along with its people, territory, border, identity, coexistence formula, system, economy, culture and civilization,” Rai said during last Sunday Mass’ sermon. “I issued the appeal… to the international community to declare Lebanon’s neutrality for the sake of its own good and the good of all its components,” he added. However, a number of Shiite clerics voiced their rejection to calls for Lebanon’s neutrality and dissociation from regional conflicts. While attention turns to the sermon of al-Rai this Sunday, ministerial sources close to President Michel Aoun position said that the latter considers that Lebanon’s neutral stance required a national consensus. Such issues constitute contentious materials and necessitate dialogue and national consensus, the sources said, voicing Aoun’s position. While Lebanese political parties, such as the Lebanese Forces, Al-Mustaqbal Movement and the Kataeb, have expressed full support to the stances of the Maronite patriarch, Hezbollah and Amal Movement are avoiding to comment on the matter. Shiite parliamentary sources, however, told Asharq Al-Awsat: “There is no neutrality in the conflict with Israel… and there is no discussion over it.” Shiite clerics, from various religious institutions, have expressed rejection of neutrality in the existing political discourse. The deputy head of the Supreme Shiite Islamic Council, Sheikh Ali Al-Khatib, said on Thursday: “The talk about a neutral position of the oppressed towards the oppressor does not make sense, even if it was made by good faith, as it comes at a time of increasing pressure on Lebanon.” Jaafari Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Qabalan said that neutrality “in this battle is forbidden and considered as treason.” “There is no neutrality in the war for the homeland; no neutrality in the interests of the country, no neutrality in the battle of truth, no neutrality in the battle of independence and sovereignty… nor in the face of the financial blockade… the crocodiles of the internal and external monetary financial game,” he said.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2397116/shiite-clerics-reject-call-lebanon%E2%80%99s-neutrality-qabalan-calls-it-treason