Bassil Says Attacks on Minorities Compelled Action against ISIL

Cabinet Minister Jebran Bassil slammed on Thursday critics who are describing him as a foreign minister for Christians, saying: “I am whole lot a Christian but not at the ministry.”

“The oppression against Christians in the region increases my attachment, similar to Shiites, Druze and (Iraq's) Yazidi community,” Bassil said in an interview with al-Akhbar newspaper.

The minister challenged anyone to provide a proof that he took any decision in his ministry based on a sectarian prejudice.

“I have been clear before that without our (the Christians) political role we will not exist,” Bassil said, pointing out that no one could exclude others.

Asked about the the Lebanese Diaspora Energy conference that was held in Beirut and accusations that he hosted a sectarian meeting, the Free Patriotic Movement official said that “stating the need on fortifying the presence (of Christians) doesn't target anyone.”

The minister defended Lebanon's request to the International Criminal Court's prosecutor to investigate crimes committed by Israel in its offensive on the Palestinian enclave and those committed by the Islamic State in Iraq against Christians.

“It is the first time that a none member ICC country files such a request,” Bassil told the newspaper.

“All of Lebanon will be harmed by the developments in Iraq and ISIL directly attacked us in the northeastern border town of Arsal.”

On August 2, deadly fighting erupted in and around Arsal, leaving 19 soldiers, 16 civilians and dozens of jihadists dead. The clashes ended with a truce negotiated by Lebanese Sunni clerics, but the jihadists withdrew from the area taking around 34 captive security personnel with them.

“Lebanon had to take action regarding the developments based on the values we believe in.”

Bassil recently compared ISIL with Israel, saying both sides refrain from recognizing international law.

Islamic State (IS) jihadists launched in early June a major offensive in northern Iraq, sweeping Iraqi security forces aside.

The militants have declared a "caliphate" straddling vast areas of Iraq and Syria.

Human rights groups and residents say IS fighters have been demanding that religious minorities in the Mosul region either convert or leave, unleashing violent reprisals on any who refuse.

Members of minority groups including the Yazidis, Christians, Shabak and Turkmen, remain under threat of kidnapping or death at the hands of the jihadists.

H.K.

G.K.