Scholars Committee Wants 'Govt. Mandate' to Resume Mediation in Arsal Captives Case

Muslims Scholars Committee delegation hoped on Saturday to resume their initiative in the case of the servicemen kidnapped by extremist groups, but with one condition "the government becomes the only guarantor."

It demanded, " an official mandate from the government."

“The abducted servicemen are our children and we will not end our initiative. Our visit is a visit of solidarity and sharing with them in their rightful stand ,” said the Muslim Scholars Committee delegation during their visit to the families of the abducted soldiers in Riad al-Solh.

“Everyone should contribute positively to this case,” it added.

The delegation called for resolving the case of the Islamists arrested and freeing the innocent ones since their fate is connected to the fate of the kidnapped soldiers.

The Muslim Scholars Committee also called the government, “to become the only guarantor for it.”

“There are groups saying that we are the political wing of the Islamic State and al-Nusra Front and we must prosecute who is saying that,” it added.

It also called for, “a formal mandate from the state to secure adequate protection for the Muslim Scholars who are negotiating.”

The Muslim Scholars Committee delegation was the first to work on negotiating to end the clashes in Arsal, that had erupted in August between the army and armed extremists. The clashes led to the withdrawal of the extremist groups into the outskirts of Arsal, while abducting soldiers from the army and police, who are still kidnapped until this moment by these groups.

The Qatari envoy who came back to Lebanon for another round of negotiation in the case of kidnapped soldiers by extremist groups since last August, received on Friday the list of demands of the abductees while being in the outskirts of Arsal.

The families of the abducted soldiers continued their movements demanding the freedom for their children, while camping in Riad al-Solh Square, amid receiving some good news sometimes and bad news other times.

Z.A.