Qabbani Holds All Lebanese Responsible for Current Situation, Rejects ‘Intimidation Arms’

Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani warned the Lebanese on Sunday that weapons of intimidation lead to the nation’s death, advising them not to destroy the bridges of communication among them.

“Every time you block a road, you destroy the bridges of communication among the different factions in this nation,” Qabbani said in his Eid al-Fitr sermon following prayers at Mohammed al-Amin mosque in downtown Beirut.

“And every time you carry intimidation weapons, you assassinate your nation,” he warned the masses.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati was among several officials who attended the prayers.

Neither current nor former officials are to be blamed for the deteriorating situation, Qabbani said. “Each one of you and each Lebanese who consented to injustice in his nation” should be blamed.

“Every citizen who didn’t ask for his rights or didn’t carry out his duties or each citizen who hates other sects” should be held responsible, he said.

The mufti also criticized officials “who incite people against each other and (party and sect) leaders who push people to dig the grave of the nation.”

He said it is “prohibited” to involve Lebanon in the regional problems, calling on officials and all parties to have the same responsibility of the army in preventing any attempt to take political differences to the streets.

“Any such attempt under any slogan is nothing but a plan to (ignite) strife,” Qabbani said.

On the government’s recent adoption of an electoral draft-law, he said: “Don’t accept a previous law that would take us to the situation we have reached today.”

“Lebanon’s salvation would only come through an electoral law that allows all Lebanese to have a true and honest representation,” he said.