Illegal Bldg on al-Ouzai Sunni Waqf Land Removed after AMAL Efforts

Following demands by Dar al-Fatwa, Lebanon's highest Sunni authority, for the removal of an illegal building built on Sunni Waqf (endowment) property in the Beirut southern suburb of al-Ouzai, AMAL Movement said it managed to convince the residents of removing the violation.

"Following reports about a construction violation in the al-Ouzai area, AMAL Movement made contacts and efforts with the residents, which led to removing the violation," the movement said in a statement.

Earlier Sunday, Dar al-Fatwa described the violation as "an aggression against Islamic Waqf property," calling for the demolition of the building.

In this regard, Lebanon's Grand Sunni Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani contacted President Michel Suleiman, caretaker premier Saad Hariri, Army Commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji and Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi, briefing them on the details of the violation of Sunni Waqf property in al-Ouzai, state-run National News Agency reported.

Qabbani urged the officials to "immediately intervene and take the measures necessary to halt construction work … on Waqf land and put an end to the violation of the State's sanctity and people's properties," NNA added.

A Waqf is an inalienable religious endowment in Islamic law, typically denoting a building or plot of land for Muslim religious or charitable purposes.