Miqati Renews Mufti Sousan's Leadership of Sidon's Islamic Endowments

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Tuesday decided to renew the mandate of Sidon Mufti Sheikh Salim Sousan as the head of the southern city's Islamic Endowments for one year starting June 20, 2013.

"Miqati issued decree number 1378 on Tuesday afternoon in which he decided to renew the term of Sousan,” revealed LBCI television.

The administrative council of Sidon's endowments had unanimously tasked Sousan to head the affairs of the institution for one year, due to the need for his “expertise, services and wisdom in this post.”

However, Grand Mufti Mohammed Rashid Qabbani slammed Miqati's decision as a “barefaced interference in the Mufti's affairs and powers.”

In a released statement, Qabbani elaborated: “Based on the laws that govern the administrative work of the Islamic Endowments, it is among the Mufti's powers to name the head of the institution.”

He added: “Dar al-Fatwa has appointed Sheikh Nazih Naqouzi as the head of Sidon's Islamic Endowments.”

Qabbani called on the caretaker premier to “deal with issues within his specialty and leave the matters of Dar al-Fatwa and Islamic Endowments to the Grand Mufti.”

"The premiership must not be a party in the feud taking place on the Islamic scene today,” the statement pointed out.

Dar al-Fatwa called for respecting Qabbani's decision and abide by them.

"Any attack against Qabbani and his post is an insult to all Muslims.”

Qabbani had appointed in May Sheikh Ahmed Nassar as the new Mufti of Sidon as a replacement for Sousan.

He had rejected extending the mandates of Sousan and Bekaa Mufti Sheikh Khalil al-Mays, whose terms ended in May 2013, due to differences between him and the current and previous premiers.

He also repeatedly expressed his rejection over the extension of the Higher Islamic Council's term, explaining that the previous its mandate was extended numerous times over a three-year period, which consequently made it past is legal end date of four years.

The Council, which elects the mufti and organizes the affairs of Dar al-Fatwa, has been at the center of controversy after 21 of its members, who are close to ex-Premier Saad Hariri's al-Mustaqbal Movement, extended its term until the end of 2013 despite Qabbani's objection.

The mufti has refused to hold or join any meetings at Dar al-Fatwa, Lebanon’s top Sunni religious authority, and called for the elections of council members.

But last month the Shura Council allegedly deemed the call illegal and canceled the elections.

Meanwhile, deputy head of the Higher Islamic Council Omar Mesqawi held talks with HIC members, after which they announced their rejection of all decisions issued by Qabbani concerning the council's elections and that oppose Miqati and previous premiers' stances.

They said Qabbani's decision should not be taken into consideration, “as if they never happened.”