Higher Islamic Shiite Council Rejects 'Negative' Endeavors to Press Release of Pilgrims

The Higher Islamic Shiite Council urged on Thursday the families of the abducted Lebanese pilgrims in Syria to have patience, rejecting any “negative” endeavor that they might adopt to press forward the release of the men.

A meeting held between the Council's Vice President Abdul Amir Qabalan and Sheikh Abbas Zgheib, who has been tasked by the authority to follow up the case, called on the families not to further complicate the case.

They stressed the importance of allowing the competent ministerial authority and General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim to follow up the diplomatic efforts to free the 9 remaining men.

On May 22, eleven Lebanese pilgrims were kidnapped in Syria's Aleppo district as they were making their way back by land from a pilgrimage in Iran.

One was released in late August and another in September, while the rest remain in the Aleppo town of Aazaz.

“We recognize the rightful demands of the families but they should have patience and await the results of ongoing efforts,” a statement issued by the council said.

The statement pointed out that the Turkish authorities are capable of ending the case.

On Monday, the Turkish Embassy in Lebanon urged its citizens to be careful and take caution, after the families of the abducted pilgrims threatened over the weekend to target Turkey's interests in the country.

Ahead of the Christmas mass at Bkirki on Tuesday, President Michel Suleiman called on the families of the men not to hold Turkey responsible for the incident.