Rafehi Refuses Mashnouq's Proposal to Replace Slogan in Tripoli Nour Square

Salafist cleric Sheikh Salem al-Rafehi expressed on Tuesday reservations over Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq's proposal to replace a slogan in Tripoli's al-Nour Square with a Quran verse.

Al-Rafehi expressed hope that the slogan wouldn't be replaced or removed, Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) quoted him as saying.

For his part, Mashnouq denied earlier comments published in the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat, saying: “The remarks were taken out of context and not accurate.”

The daily quoted him saying that he contacted Mufti of Tripoli and the North Sheikh Malek al-Shaar and al-Rafehi to discuss with them the removal of the slogans under the word “Allah” in the square and replace it with a Quran verse.

The minister stressed that the two clergymen welcomed his proposal.

On Monday, al-Mustaqbal bloc MP Khaled al-Daher clarified controversial remarks about the removal of Christian statues and symbols in Jounieh if the word “Allah” word in al-Nour square was removed.

The huge sculpture of the word “Allah” was installed in the 1980s by the Islamic Unification Movement.

“My words were taken out of context and I respect all religions and all Lebanese from all sects,” the MP said.

Internal Security Forces began removing on Saturday night from the entrance of the northern city of Tripoli black-colored Islamic flags carrying the Muslim declaration of faith “There is No God but Allah and Mohammed is His Prophet”.

The flags had been raised there by the currently pro-Damascus Islamic Unification Movement, which fought fierce battles against Syrian forces in Tripoli in the eighties of the last century.

However, the removal decision also drew the ire of other Tripoli-based Islamist groups, most of which are vehemently opposed to the Damascus regime.

The ISF's step was part of a plan aimed at removing the flags and banners of political parties from all areas in the cities of Beirut, Sidon and Tripoli and along the coastal highway. The decision was taken during the fifth dialogue session between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal movement last week.