Qabbani Accuses Miqati, Saniora of Taking HIC Row to Mosques

Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani accused Caretaker Premier Najib Miqati and al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc chief Fouad Saniora of expanding the tension inside the Higher Islamic Council.

“Miqati, Saniora and (Deputy head of the Higher Islamic Council Omar) Mesqawi, along with the council members are widening the gap and taking the differences to mosques,” Qabbani told As Safir daily in remarks published on Friday.

“Mosques should be kept at a distance from the differences,” said Qabbani, a day before the scheduled meeting of the HIC.

But the Council is divided between the members led by the Mufti and those headed by Mesqawi, who insists on holding the meeting in downtown Beirut's Mohammed al-Amin mosque.

The Council, which elects the Mufti and organizes the affairs of Dar al-Fatwa, has been at the center of controversy after 21 of its members, who are close to ex-Premier Saad Hariri's al-Mustaqbal Movement, extended its term despite Qabbani's objection.

The Mufti later held elections for the Council, which current and former premiers, including Miqati and Saniora, deemed illegal for violating Shura Council decisions to halt the polls.

Qabbani will hold the meeting on Saturday at the headquarters of Dar al-Fatwa, which is Lebanon’s top Sunni religious authority.

He accused Saniora and Mesqawi of committing violations against Lebanon's Sunnis.

“The Council, whose term had expired and which extended it until June 30, 2015, is violating the right of the head of the Council, meaning the Mufti, and his authorities,” he told As Safir.