HIC's Mesqawi Calls for Disarming 'Chaos-Created Organizations'

Deputy head of the Higher Islamic Council Omar Mesqawi stated on Saturday that disarming the country's organizations “is the only way to get out of the current political situation in Lebanon.”

“Getting out of the current political situation can only be achieved through disarming factions and organizations that possess illegal weapons and that were created in the midst of chaos,” Mesqawi said after an extraordinary meeting of the HIC held in the southern city of Sidon, following June's clashes between armed supporters of Salafist cleric Ahmed al-Asir and the military institution.

He added: “It can also be achieved through holding on to the state's security, judicial and social role for the sake of Lebanon and its religious coexistence.”

Mesqawi blamed the state's “declining role” for Sidon's clashes, remarking that these events were “unsurprising in their reasons, aspects and statements.”

"Only days before Sidon's battles, an armed clash took place and the state should have dealt with it in a strict and balanced manner without taking sides or allowing exceptions.”

"But unfortunately, the state sufficed with the role of an observer,” he commented.

Eighteen soldiers were killed and 20 others were wounded in the fierce clashes in Sidon with gunmen loyal to al-Asir on June 23 and 24. Twenty members of Asir's armed group were also killed.

“We call on the army and the judicial system to adopt a transparent and nationalistic approach in their pursuits and arrests.”

Mesqawi stressed on the army and the security forces' role in safeguarding people's security “without any bias or lenience that could lead to the fragmentation of the state and its collapse.”

"The so-called the Resistance Brigades is only a militia with known orientation and affiliation and its goal is to trigger strife in several Lebanese regions,” he said. “Parties supporting and organizing this illegal group should be questioned.”

He also praised the “intensive, continuous and rapid efforts” exerted by Sidon's MPs, the municipality of Abra neighborhood and the city's residents.

"These efforts contained the destructive consequences of these events,” he pointed out, urging the caretaker cabinet to “quickly” evaluate the damages and offer help and compensation to the affected families.

The HIC also announced the formation of a committee of the council's members to follow-up on this case.

“We also demand political leaders to quickly form a new cabinet as it could be a factor that serves stability and the conduct of the state's affairs.”

Mesqawi explained after the talks that through continuing to play its role, the "HIC is emphasizing on the council and the Awqaf's legality."