Mawlawi's Release Request Referred to Military Court
A request to release Salafist activist Shadi al-Mawlawi was referred on Thursday to the Military Court, with his lawyer expecting that a ruling would be issued Friday.
Military Investigative Judge Nabil Wehbi interrogated Mawlawi for around four hours, in the presence of his lawyer Mohammed Hafza who filed the release request.
Judge Wehbi then referred the request to Government Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr who will have the final say.
Mawlawi’s arrest on Saturday in the northern city of Tripoli by General Security agents had infuriated the city’s Islamists and sparked deadly clashes that have left at least 12 people dead and more than 100 wounded.
Mawlawi was arrested on charges of belonging to a terrorist organization, but his supporters say he was targeted because of his help for Syrian refugees fleeing to Lebanon.
General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim on Tuesday confirmed media reports that the arrest of Mawlawi was coordinated with a Western security agency, noting that al-Qaida exists in Lebanon and hinting that Mawlawi is a Qaida member.
Local newspapers reported on Wednesday that Western security agencies have warned Lebanese officials that terrorist militants linked to an extremist organization have infiltrated the country recently to plot political assassinations.
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