Ibrahim: Mawlawi Case Coordinated with Major World Power, Qaida Exists in Lebanon
General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim on Tuesday confirmed media reports that the arrest of Salafist activist Shadi al-Mawlawi was coordinated with a Western security agency, noting that al-Qaida exists in Lebanon and hinting that Mawlawi is a Qaida member.
Speaking to the correspondents of Arab newspapers in Lebanon, Ibrahim said: “As to Mawlawi’s case, I believe that the issue is thorny and weighty, and we have been following up on the case since 13 days without informing anyone in Lebanon because confidentiality is an essential part of our job. This case has major repercussions and local and international aspects.”
Mawlawi’s arrest on Saturday in the northern city of Tripoli by General Security agents had infuriated the city’s Islamists and sparked three days of deadly clashes that left nine people dead and more than 90 wounded.
Ibrahim added: “I’m under the authority of the judiciary and not under the authority of the leaders of streets and alleys. Whenever I receive a judicial warrant I will enforce it and I will not care about the possible reactions, because when I’m covered by the law and the judiciary, red lines cease to exist.”
“Should the warrant come from those against whom my mission is supposed to take place, then there will be no more a state neither a judiciary … I have a mission which I consider to be sacred and it was for the sake of the people of the North and those who have staged a sit-in there,” he went on to say.
Asked whether the arrested cell had links to the recently intercepted arms ship Lutfallah II, Ibrahim said: “Not at all. There is no relation between the two issues, but I want to declare now that the purpose behind the (arrest) operation has nothing whatsoever to do with Syria, and everything that has been said about orders from Syria or Hizbullah is totally untrue.”
And asked whether the General Security had committed a mistake by arresting Mawlawi in that manner, Ibrahim said: “We had a big mission and the officer in charge put the sacredness of his mission above all else, especially that we had orders to lure him and capture him using the appropriate method.”
The General Security chief explained that Mawlawi’s arrest was not an easy task, “as he was armed and escorted by gunmen who immediately fled upon his arrest, and therefore the officer had to think of the best possible way to arrest him.”
Ibrahim revealed that Mawlawi “is a member of a terrorist network, and according to the law, whenever we have information about any individual practicing security and political activities that violate the Lebanese laws we would be obligated to arrest him.”
“Therefore, we arrested the suspect who received sympathy from several parties. Each party has its approach … some people sympathize with him because they think like him, but that doesn’t mean I have a problem with people who think, as we’re in a democratic country and we are proud of that. My problem is with those practicing terrorism,” he added.
“A media report has revealed today that we coordinated with an embassy or a Western security agency. That is true … They accused us of receiving orders from Syria and Hizbullah, but we’re not in anyone’s service. We are in the service of the law in Lebanon,” Ibrahim said.
“This case was coordinated with a major world power, and I believe a major world power will not tackle a security issue in a sectarian manner … and those who know the director general of General Security and his past and career know that I have nothing to do with sectarianism,” he added.
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