Qabbani: Elections of Higher Islamic Council to be Held in Late Feb.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani announced on Monday that the elections of the Higher Islamic Council will be carried out during the last week of February.

Qabbani, after holding talks with former Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss, expressed regret over the division among the Islamic body, stressing that he will confront any campaign against the person of the mufti.

He stressed over the weekend that the elections should be held within the legitimate timeframe, pointing out that the members of the Council will be elected after the list of names of eligible voters is issued.

The mufti stressed that his deputy has no right to call for any Council session or chair any meeting in his absence.

Last week, the Shura Council suspended the elections set by Qabbani for Dec. 30 after 21 Higher Islamic Council members, who are close to ex-Premier Saad Hariri's al-Mustaqbal Movement, filed a challenge against the mufti's call.

They described the elections for the Council that elects the mufti and organizes the affairs of Dar al-Fatwa as illegal over Qabbani's failure to consult them before making his call.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati, who met with Qabbani the day he reversed his call for the elections, proposed holding elections within a period of two or three months with members of the current Council remaining in office until polls are held to avoid the vacuum.