Daher: We Won't Jump to Conclusions on So-Called Takfiri Cell before Investigations are Complete

Lebanon First MP Khaled al-Daher rejected on Monday the “great lie” of the existence of a salafist Islamic cell within the Lebanese army.

He said in a statement from parliament: “We refuse to jump to conclusions in this matter before the official investigations in these claims are revealed.”

He accused the Syrian regime of seeking to target Lebanon’s Sunnis through spreading allegations of this cell.

The Lebanese army had recently uncovered a “takfiri” cell within its ranks, which was planning on carrying out attacks against army barracks and centers.

The head of Fatah in Lebanon Mounir al-Muqdah had revealed that the head of this cell, Abu Mohammed Toufik Taha, was residing in the Ain el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, adding however that no one really knows his exact whereabouts.

“Why is the judiciary being pressured to jump into conclusions regarding the ‘takfiri’ cell?” wondered Daher.

“We support justice against crimes and we will defend the innocent against statements of incitement against them,” declared the MP.

No one can question the Mustaqbal Movement’s support for the Lebanese army and state institutions, he continued.

“The Syrian regime is seeking to target Lebanon’s security and divert attention away from the crimes being committed against the Syrian people,” he remarked.

Furthermore, he noted that the “Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali held talks with Sunni Grand Mufti Mohammed Rashid Qabbani immediately after the Homs massacre,” accusing him of meddling in the Lebanese judiciary.

“Is he congratulating the mufti for jumping to conclusions against the innocent without any proof?” he wondered.

Addressing President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati, Daher asked: “Aren’t the accused innocent until proven guilty?”