Shiite Charities Negatively Affected by Decision to Cancel Iftars

A decision by Shiite parties Hizbullah and AMAL to cancel daily iftars held throughout the holy month of Ramadan over security fears angered charities, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Saturday.

The daily said that charities complained about the decision, in particular those that follow Shiite scholar Sayyed Ali Fadlallah and Higher Shiite Islamic Council Sheikh Abdul Amir Qabalan.

There are fears that terrorists may infiltrate such events and blow themselves up.

Charities usually depend in their work on the donations offered during iftars.

The newspaper said that the relations between Hizbullah and Fadlallah and Qabalan deteriorated due to the decision, citing the party's intervention in the war raging in neighboring country Syria.

This the first time in several years that these organizations have canceled the iftars that were held even during the worst years of the civil war.

Last week, AMAL Movement announced that it is canceling all iftars that were scheduled to take place in different Lebanese regions “to preserve the safety” of the attendees.

However, no official statement has been issued by Hizbullah to confirm the decision.

A group calling itself the state of Damascus-Qalamoun recently vowed to carry out more attacks against Hizbullah and its agents.

Syria's civil war has spilled into Lebanon on numerous occasions and inflamed sectarian tensions. A series of car bombs have struck Shiite areas across Lebanon, killing dozens of people.

Sunni militants have claimed responsibility for the attacks to avenge Hizbullah, which has sent its fighters to Syria to help President Bashar Assad's troops in their fight against the rebels seeking to topple him.

H.K.

D.A.