Rafehi Urges Militants Not to Harm Captives as Sharkas Welcomes Muslim Clerics Endeavors

Salafist cleric Sheikh Salem al-Rafehi received on Wednesday a phone call from Islamist militant Anas Sharkas, who is also known as Abu Ali al-Shishani, to thank him for the effort exerted by the Muslim Scholars Committee over the case of his wife Ola al-Oqaili.

“Abu Ali al-Shishani contacted us to thank us regarding his wife,” Rafehi told LBCI.

On Tuesday, al-Oqaili, the wife of al-Shishani was handed over to the General Security. She was arrested two months after extensive surveillance.

She was apprehended along with her brother Rakan in the Zgharta area of Hilan in northern Lebanon at a public school hosting Syrian refugees.

The Military Court's move indicates that the release of al-Oqaili has become imminent and that she has been cleared of any major offenses.

In retaliation to the arrest, al-Shishani had threatened to start kidnapping the wives and children of soldiers until the Lebanese authorities release his spouse and two children.

Rafehi pointed out that he urged him not to harm any of the remaining captive servicemen in his custody.

Earlier in the day, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported that General Security chief Major General Abbas Ibrahim informed a delegation from the Muslim Scholars Committee that he will not negotiate with the abductors unless he “receives a written pledge from the emirs of ISIL and al-Nusra Front that none of the remaining captives will be hurt.”

The daily described the meeting between Ibrahim and the delegation as “positive.”

The report added that “Ibrahim refuses to be blackmailed.”

The relatives of the abducted soldiers and policemen called on Monday on the Muslim Scholars Committee to play a bigger role in the negotiations after Qatar withdrew from the case on Sunday.

The committee is touring Lebanese officials to press negotiations forward.

The security force members were captured when the jihadists briefly overran Arsal in August, sparking fierce battles with Lebanese troops.

Four have been executed so far, and the jihadists have threatened to kill the remaining hostages unless there is a deal to free Islamist prisoners in Lebanon.

A source told An Nahar newspaper published on Wednesday that “the state will not officially task” any side with negotiating a swap deal with the kidnappers, in hints for a request by the Muslim Scholars Committee to kick off its initiative in this regard.

“The state could only offer full cooperation with any side ready to engage in negotiations,” the source pointed out, noting that “cooperation with the Scholars Committee is achievable as the government has no other options after the Qatari-appointed mediator withdrew.”

The comments come in light of a request by the committee to be officially tasked by the state to follow up the case.