Rifi Calls for Investigation in Burning of Crosses in Tripoli as 2 Churches Defaced with IS Warnings
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi called on Sunday for an investigation to be carried out into the burning of crosses in the northern city of Tripoli.
The crosses were allegedly burned on Saturday in retaliation to the burning of an Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant flag in Beirut's Ashrafiyeh district also on Saturday.
Supporters of the al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front burned the crosses on the al-Tabbaneh highway, said Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3).
“The investigation will be carried out to safeguard the sanctity of religious, both Muslim and Christian, symbols and practices,” said Rifi in a statement.
“These practices should not be violated in any way, shape, or form or under any excuse because the cross is the most important symbol in Christianity,” he added.
“The violation of the cross will have negative and dangerous legal and national repercussions on national unity and coexistence,” he continued.
He urged General Prosecutor Judge Samir Hammoud to task the concerned judicial authorities to uncover the perpetrators in order to “lay down the harshest punishment against them.”
On Saturday, several people were seen burning ISIL flags at Ashrafiyeh's Sassine Square.
Rifi vowed on Saturday to legally pursue those who took part in the incident.
He explained that the flag has the first pillar of Islam (Ashahada) written on it, which is the testimony that there is no God except for Allah and Mohammed is the messenger of Allah.
He slammed the burning of the flag, which “is not related to ISIL and its terrorist course.”
“This demeanor insults religions and could incite sedition,” he noted.
On Saturday, Change and Reform bloc MP Ibrahim Kanaan, who is also a lawyer, decided to defend the youth who burnt down the ISIL flag.
Later on Sunday, the National News Agency reported that unknown assailants defaced two Tripoli churches with phrases saying that the “the Islamic State is coming”
Soldiers soon arrived at the area, worked on removing the phrases, and kicked off an investigation in the incident.
31 August 2014, 13:07
01
As far as i know this guy is the ministry of justice (maybe Salam has decided to fire him since yesterday huge *****...hopefully, hopefully) poor Lebanon, nothing else to add...poor Lebanon
31 August 2014, 13:55
22
This is a sure sign that the Christians in Lebanon have no more future there.With no true leader and divided they are lost.God help us all.
31 August 2014, 14:52
01
as far as i know this guy is the ministry of justice (maybe Salam has fired him since yesterday huge *****). Before that, this guy was the head of ISF...poor Lebanon, nothing else to add, poor Lebanon.
Thank you to nanaharnet for dispaying my posts (-:
31 August 2014, 15:50
10
Please ashrafieh don't go that far...we all know that few nobody want to create sectarian struggles... Druzes, Catholics, Ortodoxes, Sunnis, Shiites, Maronites are the Pride of Lebanon !!!
31 August 2014, 18:07
33
ISIS and HA: Stop using Christians for your own personal gains.
31 August 2014, 18:29
32
Nice try FT, you're both responsible for using Christians, quit it with the Taqqiya today.
31 August 2014, 18:55
32
Right...again no credible response from you as usual, how manipulative as you always are.
31 August 2014, 19:43
31
Elemental you sound like a Salafi, so what right do you have to talk about Christians safety yourself?
31 August 2014, 19:52
12
You assume I'm Salafi, how mature of you. Quit changing the subject, you both use Christians and that's a fact.
31 August 2014, 23:48
11
FT, your twisting of words shows your immaturity, secondly you're even using things I normally say, very original. Grow up.
31 August 2014, 18:12
21
tric.Iran, you're not making any logical sense, how's the English today?
31 August 2014, 23:08
10
I sometimes visit Naharnet not to read its sided articles but to read FlameThrower's comments.
31 August 2014, 23:52
11
Always blaming everyone but yourself, stop using Christians for your personal gain...yet again.
