Mufti to Jumblat at Mukhtara Mosque Opening: Your Safety is Part of Country's Safety

Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan stressed Sunday that the safety of Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat is “part of the country's safety,” days after reports surfaced about assassination plots against the Druze leader.

“The grand mission for which The Teacher Kamal Jumblat was martyred was the mission of Arab belonging, which we pledge that we will continue. We have been and we shall remain Muslim and Christian Arabs as long as Mukhtara's mosque and church remain,” said Daryan during a ceremony to inaugurate the Shakib Arslan Mosque in Jumblat's hometown Mukhtara.

Daryan also expressed regret over “the obstruction of the work of parliament, government and national dialogue meetings,” although he highlighted the importance of “seeking change.”

Commenting on the reported assassination plots against Jumblat, Daryan told the PSP leader: “Your safety is part of the country's safety and the attempt to assassinate you is a criminal plot targeted against the country's safety, stability and security.”

Former “premier (Saad) Hariri fears for you the same as he fears for the country, seeing as you are his companion and the companion of martyr premier Rafik Hariri,” Daryan added.

“You will remain free and Lebanon will remain free,” the mufti added.

Jumblat for his part said the inauguration of the mosque in Mukhtara is aimed at emphasizing that “Islam is a religion of moderation and coexistence.”