Qabbani Snubbed by Officials, Calls for Unity among Sunnis

Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani warned on Thursday against strife and called for unity among Sunnis despite being snubbed by the sect's top political leaders.

Qabbani made the appeal during his Eid al-Fitr sermon at the Mohammed al-Amin mosque in downtown Beirut. No officials attended the prayers.

He urged politicians to unify Muslims and not to be tempted by power.

This year's Eid comes amid attempts by the political leaders of the Sunni sect to force him out despite his insistence to remain in his post until elections next year.

The battle to isolate him was interpreted in the failure to send a memo that tasks a cabinet minister to represent caretaker Premier Najib Miqati at the Eid prayers and to accompany the Mufti to the mosque – a traditional move made each year.

Sources close to Miqati said not sending the memo was a reflection of the deal reached between the former prime ministers to take measures against the Mufti over financial and legal violations.

Last month, the premiers discussed the Dar al-Fatwa crisis at ex-PM Omar Karami's residence in the northern city of Tripoli.

The statement, which was issued after the meeting that was attended in addition to Karami by Miqati, Premier-designate Tammam Salam and former PM Fouad Saniora, said the conferees agreed on “a number of steps that will be implemented consecutively.”

Miqati's sources told An Nahar newspaper that not sending the memo is one of the measures that the PMs agreed on.

The Higher Islamic 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.

But the mufti considered the extension illegal and held council elections.