Al-Asir's Mother Says Son Staunch Supporter of Army
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The parents of Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir stressed on Saturday that their son has been a staunch supporter of the Lebanese army, considering that he survived an assassination bid.
“Whatever I said no one will listen to us after he (al-Asir) was accused of killing army officers,” the mother of al-Asir, who remained unnamed, told An Nahar newspaper.
She described the recent clashes in the southern town of Abra, near the city of Sidon, as an attempt to assassinate the controversial cleric.
“He was forced to carry arms to defend himself and his supporters... He had continuously demanded that the state controls the arms” of Hizbullah, the mother of al-Asir added.
“I am his mother and I am a Shiite... He was only against the dominance of arms,” she said.
Al-Asir, a 45-year-old cleric who is no where to be found since last month's deadly gunbattles between his gunmen and the Lebanese army, resurfaced Thursday in an alleged audio message in which he described the clashes as a plot against him.
The cleric called on the Sunni community to “break the barrier of fear and fear only God,” urging them to protest “in a peaceful and civilized manner” after Friday prayers “in coordination with the Muslim clerics.”
State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr charged on Thursday 27 people for their involvement in the Abra battles where Bilal Bin Rabah mosque is located.
Ten of them were charged in absentia, including al-Asir and a onetime prominent singer-turned Salafist Fadel Shaker.
The cleric teamed up with Shaker when around two years ago he began agitating for Hizbullah to disarm.
If convinced, the suspects face the death penalty.
Hilal al-Asir, the father of Sheikh Ahmed, expressed regret the assault against reporters in comments published in An Nahar.
“Those who attacked reporters were shoved into (Friday's) protest,” Hilal said, considering that they tarnishes the image of al-Asir family.
Hundreds of men and women supporting al-Asir marched from Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque after Friday prayers, heading to al-Karameh roundabout in the southern city of Sidon.
The protesters assaulted TV crews in Abra, smashing the windows of their cars and breaking their cameras during the march, prompting the Lebanese army to ask journalists to leave Sidon and the northern city of Tripoli until the end of the protest.
06 July 2013, 09:02
119
To be a mother regardless of your religious background of a son that creates havoc & civil unrest in our home land I do understand where you coming from. But accept the problems that your son Assir has & is still instigating in our country wether you love him but us majority Don't ! The only solution for killing our beloved Army is Death by Hanging in the public square! Let this be a lesson for others' who Dare ! Keep away from the LAF !!
06 July 2013, 09:09
22
Bad mothers having uneducated childs must not have the right to defend them
06 July 2013, 09:32
118
So Assir shows his support of the army by attacking the army and killing dozens of soldiers?
06 July 2013, 09:33
96
Awww well that should make the soldiers' mothers feel better :)
But seriously, it's a sad stare of affairs, when a man can go on tv for months begging the state to step in. But they just sat back and watched him arm himself, until he became a threats to civil peace.
What would it have cost them to investigate the apartments? Instead they set up checkpoints in front of his mosque, and opened an investigation against him instead. Even then, they waited until he was armed to the teeth and calling for jihad, but only stepped in when he threatened the apartments.
Luckily tho, after it was all said n done, they vacated the appts. They no longer had any need for them. But we all agree now that hizballah did set up appts, filled with arms and men, to spy and/or plot on assir. Cont-
06 July 2013, 09:38
96
Im 100% against salafis, or even normal Islam in politics. But there has to be accountability for tye actions of the state. I'm glad he's gone, and I wish he was never here... But we'll never have a state without answers. I'm sorry, but I just don't trust hizballahs judgments blindly.
I'm not saying I disagree. All I'm saying is that a militia cannot have unregulated freedoms inside a state. That's a fact. Either let that militia become the state, or become part of the state, and answer to that state.
06 July 2013, 09:42
74
Or some kind of a U.A.E type of system would be great. Separate states, but same country. Which is what we already are really.
06 July 2013, 10:22
95
Assir should receive the death penalty to make it very clear to everyone what's the consequence of attacking our army. Otherwise other groups will be tempted to do the same and we're going towards more chaos..
06 July 2013, 10:43
83
Ahlan yah RFT, I deeply appreciate your lovely comments, it's the very people like you & alike we allow ourselves to sacrifice. Even though I have retired my son has taken my placement with a great honour in serving this great nation, then his sons' will grow & take over in guarding our great Cedars against those who try to cut it & defame its beauty than allow it to grow . Once again when you wear a Cedar atop your head we are here to act on your behalf but don't attack the LAF!
06 July 2013, 10:54
84
As far as Assir is concerned why did he run away? What did he accomplish by killing our members of the LAF? A thief at the local supermarket caught red handed would try to run . But if he has nothing to hide he will stay his ground ! Now bring Assir to justice & face his charges with Fadel Shaker, they shall be found guilty as charged & hung by the very belts of our Murdered Soldiers'! Once again our sincere condolences to our fallen Soldiers' & to all of their families regardless of their religious background !
06 July 2013, 11:13
82
I'm sure I could better than that for RFT. How about meeting my Son ! He will sign it on my behalf, just look for a person wearing a Lebanese Uniform with a Cedar on his head! I'm sure you have met . I'm sure if show respect he shall be at your behest.
06 July 2013, 16:35
52
Mrs. Asir's mother, with all due respect your explanation of your Son's state of mind is BS.
06 July 2013, 21:03
12
Was fayez karam legit? He works for the Zionist enemy. Those military that started the fire were working for HIzballa.
06 July 2013, 19:18
14
Defending Asir is a fragment of your imagination, because
1) you are deceptive
2) you are Iranian
3) it is the only way you can justify your HA
I heard the NSA is looking for HA sympathizers, you may want to contact them and explain your anti-canibalism phobia as justification for supporting "death-by-knife slashing" warriors. .
06 July 2013, 22:18
11
I already have dozen posts criticising both .... heart eaters and "death-bu-knife-slashing" proponents. Do you have amnesia? Sorry to pick on your warriors..... the ones trained by Darius.
06 July 2013, 21:02
12
The only people who are against the army are those who store 40k rockets and scud missiles.
I beleive Assir was ambushed by a few armed Lebanese forces working for Hizballa.
06 July 2013, 23:25
13
you're not the only one to believe that prime.
Assir should surrender in a safe way and tell people what happened.
The problem, we all know how lebanese judiciary can be subjective, like the army and the rest...
07 July 2013, 02:42
31
Lady, your son and his thugs have killed 18 of our best and bravest men in the name of Allah/Jihad and there simply isn't another explanation for his actions. Now that the noose of justice is tightening we have heard it all, right through from conspiracy to you now trying to play a sympathy card. A mother will only see the values she has instilled in her son and denies his evil deeds. A staunch supportee of the army would not turn arms on the army.
