Spiritual Summit: All Sides Must Adhere to State, Reject Foreign Meddling
The Dar al-Fatwa spiritual summit stressed on Tuesday the importance of historic and current cooperation between Christians and Muslims in Lebanon.
The closing statement, read by Secretary General of the Christian-Muslim Committee for Dialogue Mohammed al-Sammak, stressed: “All sides should adhere to the civil state, frank dialogue, and reject foreign meddling in Lebanon.”
The summit was headed by Grand Mufti Mohammed Rashid Qabbani and attended by Vice President of the Higher Islamic Shiite Council Abdul Amir Qabalan, Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Naim Hassan, and Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.
The statement highlighted the historic role Christians have played in the East, saying that they have and still play a central role in the region.
Addressing the developments in Lebanon, it said: “The country’s stability is based on the principles of mutual coexistence, as well as respecting the constitution and sovereignty of the state.”
“Preserving the Lebanese people’s unity requires them to firmly oppose foreign meddling,” it said.
Furthermore, the gatherers stressed the importance of reform in Lebanon and openness among its citizens.
“Lebanon will survive through dialogue and the unity of its people,” they noted.
They also voiced their opposition to the naturalization of Palestinians in Lebanon, emphasizing their right to return to their homeland.
During the opening of the summit, Qabbani stressed the unity between Christians and Muslims to safeguard their existence and future.
“Neither Muslims nor Christians are seeking to harm each other in Lebanon and the Arab world,” he said.
He highlighted the need to implement the Taef accord to confront “strife that has lasted many years.”
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