Sharp Differences over Higher Islamic Council Increase Tension with Qabbani

The dispute over the Higher Islamic Council elections deepened on Thursday amid increasing tension between Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani.

LBCI reported that the Mufti filed on Thursday a lawsuit against anyone found suspicious of “forging” the extension of the Higher Islamic Council's term.

His move came a day after Miqati and former premiers gave him until Saturday to call on the HIC to convene, warning Qabbani of failing to comply.

The meeting, which was attended by former PMs Salim al-Hoss, Omar Karami and Fouad Saniora at the Grand Serail, considered that Qabbani's negative attitude is threatening the sect's stability and unity.

Earlier, al-Liwaa newspaper reported that Miqati admonished Qabbani for ignoring his efforts to end the dispute over the Higher Islamic Council.

Sources close to the premier told the newspaper that Miqati is frustrated by Qabbani's behavior towards the spat over the HIC elections.

Dar al-Fatwa sources told the newspaper that the Mufti is insisting on holding the elections of the HIC on April 14, stressing that Qabbani rejects to be pressed to take a certain stance.

The sources expected that mediators will exert efforts to convince the Mufti to cooperate to end the dispute to safeguard the Sunni sect.

Qabbani is refusing to hold any meetings at Dar al-Fatwa for considering that the HIC's term has expired.

The Council elects the mufti and organizes the affairs of Dar al-Fatwa, Lebanon’s top Sunni religious authority.

Last year, the Shura Council suspended a call for the elections after 21 HIC members, who are close to ex-Premier Saad Hariri's al-Mustaqbal movement, filed a challenge against Qabbani's invitation to hold the polls.

Differences between them spread when the 21 members extended the term of the council until the end of 2013 despite the objection of Qabbani, who argues that the extension is illegal and the council’s term has expired.