Pilgrims Families Threaten to Nab 'Any Turk on Beirut Streets' after Saleh's Arrest
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The families of the Aazaz hostages on Monday threatened to kidnap “any Turkish national on Beirut's streets,” after the Internal Security Forces' Intelligence Bureau failed to release Mohammed Saleh, a relative of one of the abductees who has been arrested over alleged ties to the kidnappers of two Turkish pilots.
The warning comes after the families held a meeting with caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel at his office over the arrest of Saleh and the ongoing negotiations in the case of the abducted pilgrims.
“Charbel said Mohammed Saleh is innocent and that he was held on suspicions but he has not been released until the moment and any Turkish national on Beirut's streets will be kidnapped,” Hayat Awali, a spokeswoman for the families, said in an interview with al-Jadeed television.
“Any Turkish national on Beirut's streets is a target for us,” she added.
Earlier on Monday, Charbel briefed the families on the latest developments related to the ongoing negotiations, state-run National News Agency reported.
“We will let the security agencies do their routine procedures but Mohammed Saleh will be released because the phone call he made was for congratulations,” Daniel Shoaib, a spokesman for the families, said after the meeting.
Saleh was arrested on Sunday by the ISF Intelligence Bureau on charges of having links to the kidnappers of two Turkish pilots who were abducted on Friday near the Beirut Rafik Hariri International Airport.
For his part, Sheikh Abbas Zgheib, who has been tasked by the Higher Islamic Shiite Council to follow up the case of the abducted pilgrims, said the delegation discussed the "latest developments" with Charbel.
"He briefed us on the latest developments pertaining to the nine hostages and the atmosphere was positive," he added.
"The Turkish state is responsible for the return of the nine abductees to Lebanon," said Zgheib.
In an interview with LBCI television, the cleric said: "Charbel informed us that Mohammed Saleh has nothing to do with the kidnapping operation and that he is being interrogated over the congratulations phone call he had received."
But he warned: “If Mohammed Saleh is not released today, we will consider him to be kidnapped by the Intelligence Bureau and we'll act accordingly."
On Sunday, the families of the abductees threatened to escalate their protests in the wake of Saleh's arrest.
A previously unknown group calling itself Zuwwar Imam al-Rida claimed the kidnapping of the two pilots. The relatives of the pilgrims held in Aazaz were quick to deny having any links to the abduction.
Eleven pilgrims were kidnapped in Syria's Aleppo region in May 2012 as they were making their way back to Lebanon by land from pilgrimage in Iran.
Two of them have since been released, while the rest remain in Aazaz.
Their relatives have held Turkey responsible for their ongoing abduction.
They have repeatedly vowed to take action against Turkish interests in Lebanon in order to pressure Ankara to release the captives.
12 August 2013, 17:39
212
After the meeting, these persons advised that any turk on Lebanese soil is a target for them!
these persons have lost any support I had for them once they started kidnapping and threatening through hizbushaitan, instead of pushing for the Syrian regime to free the women.
12 August 2013, 18:17
09
This terrorist party called HA and its followers have destroyed the state of Lebanon... SAD!
12 August 2013, 18:20
39
As our fearless leader SHN said : "Call us terrorists, Call us rejectionists, Call us criminals, Call us whatever you like, Kill us under every stone and on every front and at the door of every Hussainiyeh, WE the shia of Ali Ibn Taleb will never give up our sorely missed "Pilgrims"....!!!"
12 August 2013, 18:33
07
There we go again, just like in the mid eighties when they kidnapped Westerners so Iran can get arms from Israel, the Shi3a Iranian terrorists are turning any Lebanese citizen traveling into a pariah and a leper.
12 August 2013, 18:33
18
Arabs hate u and now Turks as well, thats a very clever move, great strategy...
12 August 2013, 21:24
13
Southern. Your leadef nasrallah says he is sayid, that means he is from mecka from the same land whos people you hate :)
13 August 2013, 00:16
13
But if you are from mecka, why are you occupying lebanon? Go to saudi arabia to your homeland. Lebanon is not your homeland, you just admitted to being from mecka.
12 August 2013, 20:04
23
honestly, at this point in time, i am hoping the 'pilgrims' get killed--it would be a favor to them if they have to come back to these thugs and criminals they call 'family'.
12 August 2013, 20:26
12
you are a tool--they were kidnapped in SYRIA by SYRIANS--their grievance should be with the SYRIAN embassy. hizb iran is just trying to divert the blame elsewhere for its mindless minions.
12 August 2013, 22:08
02
ok--the rebels are a bunch of brainless thugs, what's your point? It doesn't change the FACTS that the so called pilgrims were kidnapped in SYRIA. Additionally, when you compare the behavior of the kidnappers to those of the families, it becomes more and more difficult to figure out which group is the eviler of the two.
12 August 2013, 22:15
71
I wish the ISF would use the same kind of effort and enthusiasm to try to release its own citizens being held by these al qaeda rats in Syria, instead of bowing down to Saudi and Ottoman demands.
Just saying...
12 August 2013, 22:20
07
The ISF stands for: INTERNAL Security Forces. Their job is to protect civilians INSIDE of Lebanon, not in Syria, not in Israel not in ChingChangChong.
I wish we have less of you in Lebanon but that's the level of intelligence we have to live with. How about Nasrallah frees the Lebanese prisoners that been in Syria since Hafez days, or they don't count?
12 August 2013, 22:23
51
of course they count. all Lebanese should be free. Our government doesn't seem to want to do anything except bow down to the demands of other nations.
12 August 2013, 23:42
50
Iran against Lebanon. Please enlighten me? Tell me some examples of how Iran directly interferes with Lebanon beside re-building the jnoob and offering the LAF with anti aircraft weapons.
ummm is that a typo??? M14 against Israel/Al Qeada/Nusra???? ok your against them yet your leaders sit and drink tea with them, and supply weapons to them in Syria. Good one.
13 August 2013, 00:09
50
Yes, all your evidence is quite overwhelming as well. We dont need evidence to know that Hariri, lady Geagea, sinoria, assir and many more are Saudi funded. and when someone is Saudi funded you know they do not have the right intentions and they definitely have blood on their hands. if you even try to deny this fact then its pointless to even argue with degenerate like yourself.
13 August 2013, 03:17
00
a genuine army general.... unlike the other underground terrorista.
13 August 2013, 03:48
01
Lebanan cannot go without a government much longer. Hezbollah is not government, it cannot maintain order, it is only meritorious when compared to a void I government and Hezbollah and its ally Michel Aoun is well on its way to create that void
13 August 2013, 04:20
02
@insideman1: Year 2005, at least 14 political anti-Syrian figures assassinated, those financing FSA have the right to do so for their martyrs. Year 2006, HA unilaterally and forgetting the Army-People-Resistance statement they dance with, brought massive destruction to the entire Country, Iran's reimbursement were rejected by the Leb state so that history does not repeat itself and HA does another 2006 on everyone. We want to live with the Shia only if they follow the state and abide by the latter policy FIRST, then follow Iran or Assad.
13 August 2013, 04:59
10
Naharnet read your posts and decided you are better off being quiet and be thought of as a fool then let you rambler on and remove all doubt. It is in your interest they deactivated your account.
13 August 2013, 07:17
00
Let the Shi3a stand back from the syrian situation.
You cannot expect the opposition to treat the shi3a normally as if nothing is happening
13 August 2013, 10:03
00
ı am Turk and ı am wondering why are you kidnapped and threatening our people ı dont understand.
ı tought that we were friends.
13 August 2013, 13:58
00
“If Mohammed Saleh is not released today, we will consider him to be kidnapped by the Intelligence Bureau and we'll act accordingly." Then go kidnap members of the Intelligence Bureau you schmucks and quit dragging the name of our country through the mud on an international scale! The Israeli government is laughing all the way to the bank, since before they needed to payroll its Mossad agents to spread such propaganda, but here the Lebanese are doing it themselves. Malla joursa...
