Mesqawi Calls for Extraordinary HIC Meeting on Wednesday

The deputy head of the Higher Islamic Council Omar Mesqawi called on Tuesday for an extraordinary HIC meeting to be held on Wednesday, March 20.

“The talks will tackle the critical security situation in Lebanon and the necessary measures to be adopted to confront the strife plan for the country, which was inflamed by the attack on four Muslim scholars,” a statement released by the HIC detailed, noting that Mesqawi will chair the meeting.

Dar al-Fatwa clerics Sheikh Mazen Hariri and Sheikh Ahmed Fakhran were attacked in the Shiite area of Khandaq al-Ghamiq on Sunday while two other clerics, one of them identified as Omar al-Imami were attacked in the southern Beirut suburb of Shiyyah.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani urged calm and restraint after the attack, stressing that the perpetrators “will not go unpunished."

The HIC's statement remarked: “The discussions will be held at member Bassam Barghout's office in Beit Areej – al-Sanayeh neighborhood of Beirut due to the impossibility of convening at Dar al-Fatwa's headquarters."

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