Rifi Calls for Investigation in Burning of Crosses in Tripoli as 2 Churches Defaced with IS Warnings
Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi called on Sunday for an investigation to be carried out into the burning of crosses in the northern city of Tripoli.
The crosses were allegedly burned on Saturday in retaliation to the burning of an Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant flag in Beirut's Ashrafiyeh district also on Saturday.
Supporters of the al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front burned the crosses on the al-Tabbaneh highway, said Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3).
“The investigation will be carried out to safeguard the sanctity of religious, both Muslim and Christian, symbols and practices,” said Rifi in a statement.
“These practices should not be violated in any way, shape, or form or under any excuse because the cross is the most important symbol in Christianity,” he added.
“The violation of the cross will have negative and dangerous legal and national repercussions on national unity and coexistence,” he continued.
He urged General Prosecutor Judge Samir Hammoud to task the concerned judicial authorities to uncover the perpetrators in order to “lay down the harshest punishment against them.”
On Saturday, several people were seen burning ISIL flags at Ashrafiyeh's Sassine Square.
Rifi vowed on Saturday to legally pursue those who took part in the incident.
He explained that the flag has the first pillar of Islam (Ashahada) written on it, which is the testimony that there is no God except for Allah and Mohammed is the messenger of Allah.
He slammed the burning of the flag, which “is not related to ISIL and its terrorist course.”
“This demeanor insults religions and could incite sedition,” he noted.
On Saturday, Change and Reform bloc MP Ibrahim Kanaan, who is also a lawyer, decided to defend the youth who burnt down the ISIL flag.
Later on Sunday, the National News Agency reported that unknown assailants defaced two Tripoli churches with phrases saying that the “the Islamic State is coming”
Soldiers soon arrived at the area, worked on removing the phrases, and kicked off an investigation in the incident.
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