Daher Tells Govt. to 'Perform its Duties' in Abdul Wahed Case or Face 'Civil Disobedience'

Akkar MP Khaled al-Daher on Sunday called on the government to “perform its duties” concerning the case of Sheikh Ahmed Abdul Wahed and his companion or else face “civil disobedience.”

“The Lebanese must be ready to defend their country. The government must perform its duties or else it will witness something it did not experience before and we might declare civil disobedience,” Daher said during a meeting in the Akkar town of al-Bireh, Abdul Wahed’s hometown.

The meeting discussed the recent release of army officers linked to the shooting deaths of Abul Wahed and his companion Sheikh Mohammed Merheb at an army checkpoint in the Akkar town of al-Kweikhat.

“We will stage a sit-in outside (Prime Minister Najib) Miqati's residence and outside the Grand Serail until we obtain our right,” Daher warned.

“They want to undermine Lebanon for the sake of the Syrian regime and that's what some March 8 leaders have threatened us with,” the lawmaker charged.

“From the very beginning, we called for an impartial judiciary and said that the Military Court is not eligible to issue a ruling in the case of Sheikh Abdul Wahed,” he added.

Daher, however, promised that the possible escalatory steps would be peaceful.

“We promise the Lebanese that we will not harm anyone's security and will not block roads or burn tires and that we will defend our right peacefully yet sternly and we are under the law and with the constitution,” Daher pledged.

He accused the government of being “an accomplice in the killing of the Lebanese and in the assassination crimes and the withholding of telecom data from security agencies to distort the truth,” in reference to the recent attempt on MP Boutros Harb’s life.

The security situation will likely impose itself as the main issue of discussion during cabinet’s session on Monday given the recent unrest on the border with Syria and the protests over the release of officers linked to the deaths of the two sheikhs, reported the daily An Nahar on Sunday.

It said that the severity of the situation may force the government to take decisive action in the affairs in order to avoid its further deterioration.

Protests broke out on Friday in light of a decision to release three officers and eight soldiers who were held for their connection to the deaths of Abdul Wahed and Merheb at an army checkpoint in May.

Angry residents in Akkar condemned the decision and blocked roads in protest.

A meeting of Akkar officials late on Thursday demanded that Abdul Wahed and Merheb's case be referred to the Judicial Council.