Salafist Cleric Rafehi Says He Was Not Target of Assassination Attempt

Salafist cleric Sheikh Salem al-Rafehi stated on Tuesday that he was not the victim of an assassination attempt, explaining that al-Taqwa Mosque in the northern city of Tripoli was the target of Monday's shooting incident.

He said during a press conference: “I was not the target of the attack, but the mosque was the victim because of its support of the Syrian revolution.”

The mosque is guilty of supporting the Syrian people through humanitarian means, he added.

“We have backed the revolt on the relief level, contrary to other partners in Lebanon who have been supporting the Syrian regime through all possible means,” stressed Rafehi.

“The world has let the Syrian people down because they are Muslims,” he noted.

“If the attack against me was aimed at creating strife, then I declare that we will not be dragged to strife,” said the cleric.

Moreover, he revealed that one of al-Taqwa Mosque's cleric's convoy once came under attack as it was leaving Martyrs' Square in Beirut.

He did not disclose details of the incident.

Rafehi said that the authorities at the mosque chose not to publicize the incident in order to avert creating tensions in the country.

He explained that the clerics at the mosque were being targeted due to their support of the Syrian revolution.

“We will leave investigations in Monday's incident to the security authorities,” he added.

Rafehi on Monday escaped unharmed from an apparent assassination attempt in the northern city of Tripoli, state-run National News Agency reported.

“An unidentified attacker fired a gunshot towards Rafehi as he was leaving al-Taqwa Mosque, but the bullet missed him and he is in good health,” LBCI television reported.

NNA said the bullet struck the mosque's door.