Al-Shaar Back in Lebanon: We Will Continue Our Path under Army’s Protection
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Mufti of Tripoli and the North Sheikh Malek al-Shaar returned to Beirut on Tuesday evening, seven months after he had left the country for security reasons.
"I had no alternative but to return to Lebanon and after I received encouragements I decided to return because Lebanon needs everyone,” al-Shaar said upon his arrival to Rafik Hariri International Airport.
“No one should be absent from Lebanon, except for security concerns.”
He continued: “I do not want to hear words that refer to one sect or another. We, the Lebanese, will continue our path led by President Michel Suleiman and under the protection of the army.”
"As Lebanese, are message is to spread hope and peace and we wish the future would be prosperous.”
In response to questions asked by reporters at the airport, al-Shaar said Dar al-Fatwa “will not be confined by a certain opinion, man or current, and it will embrace the entire country.”
The Mufti assured that his hand is extended to everyone.
"I extend a salutation of love and appreciation to (the Beirut neighborhood of) Dahieh and I believe the security plans devise for it and for (the northern city of) Tripoli are major steps,” he said.
The northern cleric also expressed his condolences to his “brothers and people in (the North's city of) Akkar."
“I am very hopeful that the coming days will be full of hope,” he expressed.
Al-Shaar announced in December 2012 that he will not be returning to Lebanon from a trip to Europe after he has allegedly received death threats.
Earlier on Tuesday, As Safir newspaper said in a report that al-Shaar will swiftly head to his residence in Tripoli after arriving in Beirut's Rafik Hariri International airport accompanied by a security escort.
The daily said that all the security measures were taken to guarantee the Mufti's safety.
08 October 2013, 20:07
114
Hezbollah will blow him up.... One day or another. Not that I feel sympathy for this cleric....but terrorism à la Iranian-gangnam-style is not the solution.
09 October 2013, 17:41
02
lol those are clearly not HA fighters. you obviously never saw HA fighters if you think these are.
09 October 2013, 17:43
02
not only your accusations are completely random, but you contradict yourself. if HA was such the devil you want to portray it as, would any "guarantee" they give be worth something?
09 October 2013, 17:49
01
this sheikh can be a real leader for the moderate Sunni currents, as such he is a threat for the extremist currents, they are in competition with him, they rely on Sunnis who drift towards hardcore/fanatical views. if there is a strong moderate leader, this is much less likely to happen, and they will lose followers.
also he extends a hand to other sects and is a figure that stands for unity. as such, he is a potential partner for dialogue and understanding between sects, notably the Shiites.
if anything HA should ensure his security by all means and at any cost. whoever has been pushing for an internal war against HA has every interest in getting rid of al Shaar.
