Rifi Rejects 'Arbitrary Arrest of Any Religious or Bearded Man'

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Minister of Justice Ashraf Rifi on Saturday called for “the release of those who did not fight the army” in the clashes in Tripoli and the north last month, rejecting “the arbitrary arrest of any religious or bearded man.”

Rifi, who toured in Bab al-Tabbaneh where the clashes began between the army and armed groups, stressed on “the importance of canceling the military court and the judicial council or modifying it's laws.”

"Every self-respecting countries has abolished the exceptional courts and the trials to one level,” he added.

“The verdicts issued by the military court are bias and this is rejected.”

Rifi explained: “The trials in the military court should not begin from prejudgments and we are citizens just like all the other citizens and all the citizens should be treated equally and put under the laws.”

"I've inspected al-Tabbaneh neighborhoods and listened to the pain of the citizens, due to the arbitrary arresting their children and the destruction of their homes and stores,” added Rifi.

“They deeply hurt since a large number of young people, who were not involved in the clashes against the army, were arrested. "

He also stressed: “As the minister of justice I will give priority to this case and I will talk with the army commander who is thanked for his position, where he declared that the citizens of Tripoli and the Bab al-Tabbaneh are not terrorists and they were beside the army.”

Moreover, he insisted that, “those who did not fight the army should be immediately released to his parents.”

Rifi rejected “accusing or arresting any religious or bearded person, and in Tripoli we are proud of our religiousness and our commitment to it.”

Concerning the compensations, the minister of justice said: “We conducted in the Cabinet several decrees concerning the payment of compensation to those affected in the recent rounds of violence and clashes between militants and the army.”

But he stressed that "the area needs a lot of developments from schools to hospitals and open up job opportunities for our young people by encouraging the establishment of laboratories and factories for our children, to live in dignity and heyday.”

The clashes that Tripoli witnessed and specifically in Bab al-Tabbaneh neighborhood transformed this impoverished neighborhood into an afflicted one. Leader of al-Mostaqbal Movement Saad al-Hariri donated a grant to the city to compensate for those affected by the clashes.

"Tripoli proved that it is with the government and its legitimate institutions, mainly the army, but the government should prove that it is with Tripoli and embrace its citizens and go into its neighborhoods with development and vital projects, not with iron and fire.”

While the army continues with its military operations in Tripoli and the north and carries out raids during which many people are bring arrested.

Z.A.

Comments 10
Thumb smarty 15 November 2014, 21:13

Does he even need to make such a statement?
I hope people aren't arrested because of their looks! Has the Lebanese fallen this low?

Thumb geha 16 November 2014, 08:22

the army intelligence is doing just that.
arrests are being made on the basis of 'ekhbarieh' and without any legal authority.

Thumb kesrweneh 16 November 2014, 20:16

Geha this is how intelligence works, they have insiders who give them tips, and based on these tips they go and do their duty which is protecting the country from salafis and takfiris like Mr. Rifi, And by the way not only is this legal but it's their duty so if you don't know the law please refrain from referring to it.

Default-user-icon esquire (Guest) 15 November 2014, 22:30

your comment is irrelevant and not necessary true

Default-user-icon dezabro (Guest) 15 November 2014, 22:31

lol@defacto

Thumb -phoenix1 16 November 2014, 00:17

Mr. Rifi, no one told them to bear beards in the first place. These are trying times, so anyone who doesn't want to get arrested? Well just do what the Afghans did when the US entered Afghanistan, they shaved clean. Let them shave clean our bearded men if they want to avoid dry shave by our army.

Default-user-icon Costa (Guest) 16 November 2014, 05:57

all religios institutions in lebanon : shiites, sunnis and chridtians should prevent there imams , sheiks, sayed and priests to bear arms or encourage fighting, this is not there job, starting by the party satan

Default-user-icon Mazen (Guest) 16 November 2014, 12:32

Are they above the law?

Default-user-icon + oua nabka + (Guest) 16 November 2014, 13:05

this guy is terrible he should make a law as justice minister to ban and forbid takfiry and extremists and salafy wahabies parties

Thumb kesrweneh 16 November 2014, 20:12

Is he for real!? Is he forgetting that he is not anymore the mukhtar of tebeneh nor one of his kadit ma7awrir? Is he actually defending the salafis? Man go take off your tie, grow a beard, shave your mustache, and wear taliban clothing this way your outside will look exactly like your rotten 1400 years old inside