Mufti: I’m Not A Student in Future’s School, They Harm Me As No One Did before

Local Editor

The Lebanese Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani accused some Future Movement officials of "offending him as no one had done previously."

In an interview with "al-Akhbar" daily, the Mufti confirmed : "I am not a student in Future movement as are some of its ministers and deputies."
As he rejected the accusations against certain sides of being behind the assassination of Gen. Wissam al-Hassan, Sheikh Qabbani stressed "Boycott and sit-ins will not work."

"The scene of the Future's storming into the government's house [Grand Serail], on the funeral of martyr al-Hassan, was shocking," he said.
In parallel, he highlighted "History repeats itself, but, this time, bitterness was great because the Sunni sect was attacking one of its symbols, i.e. the Grand Serail."

"On the morning of the al-Hassan's funeral, I prepared to head the funeral prayers at Mohammed al-Amin Mosque," Sheikh Qabbani revealed.
He further stated that Mufti of the North Sheikh Malek Shaar informed him that "Saad Hariri's advisor, Nadir Hariri, asked him to head the prayers."
On another level, Qabbani affirmed that "those ,who tried to storm the Serail, are trained invading groups."
"This was clear from the way of their attack on the barbed wires," he told al-Akhbar.

In response to former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, the Mufti wondered: "Why do they seek my protection when they are in the Serail, and refuse it when they are outside?"
"The fatal malady lies in the ego, which drove out the devil from the Paradise, after he assumed himself better than Adam," he noted.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Qabbani urged MPs Saad Hariri and Siniora to "stop some of their officials' campaign against the Mufti."
"Stop offending the Muslims by targeting the Mufti," he said, and pointed out that "these abuses and childish behaviors will negatively affect them."
Moreover, the Mufti reiterated his rejection "to following them and their orders."
"They think that the Mufti is a student in their school as are some of their ministers and MPs," he added.

In addition, Sheikh Qabbani viewed "Siniora's behavior during al-Hassan's funeral was based on the say : Let me replace you."
"Siniora is known for being a wise man. However, on that day he appeared as having wisdom without mind," he declared.
Despite his dispute with the Future Movement, Qabbani informed "al-Akhbar" that his relationship with Saudi Arabia "is excellent."


Source: al-Akhbar daily, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org