Lebanese cleric warns of 'seditionists' taking advantage of anti-government protests

Rasa – The head of Association of Scholars of Tyre has stated that due the current atmosphere, seditionists can easily take advantage of the situation and warned the protesters that if their protests are not peaceful, those who seek to inflame Lebanon’s delicate religious and sectarian differences will exploit the volatile situation.

News ID: 3220

Date: 25 August 2015 - 18:50

RNA – During a meeting with a group of citizens and religious officials of the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, Hujjat al-Islam Ali Yasin, the head of the Association of Scholars of Tyre, stated that in response to the political conflicts among government officials, the people must have self-restraint and patience over the issues which have led to the suspension of urban basic services, adding that such a situation is not worthy of this noble nation.

His Eminence warned that due to the avarice of Zionist regime toward Lebanon, they could easily strangle this tiny country and added that the political weakness and corruption in the state apparatus also makes work for the people difficult and makes life bitter.

The Lebanese cleric referred to the recent “You Stink” campaign and their clashes with security forces over the weekend and pointed out: “Protests against shortages due to the closure of government offices are the right of every Lebanese citizen, but people should voice their complaints to their officials in a peaceful manner.”

The “You Stink” protests in the Lebanese capital of Beirut over the country’s mounting garbage crisis. The angry protesters have demanded that the government take immediate measures to gather the garbage that has been accumulating on the capital’s streets over the past month.

These protests that began peacefully have descended into violence after clashes between police and protesters that wounded scores.

Lebanon’s cabinet and parliament are also deadlocked, and politicians have been unable to agree on a new president for more than a year while the war in neighbouring Syria has aggravated sectarian tensions in Lebanon and driven more than one million refugees into the country.

Hujjat al-Islam Yasin stressed that due the current atmosphere and sectarianism in the country, seditionists can easily take advantage of the situation and warned the protesters that if their protests are not peaceful, those who seek to inflame Lebanon’s delicate religious and sectarian differences will exploit the volatile situation.

His Eminence called on the protesters to continue their legitimate and peaceful protests, but warned them to avoid sectarianism and regionalism because the pain and suffering of the people is one.

The head of Association of Scholars of Tyre said: “We had repeatedly warned the government that one day the patience of the people over the government’s disregard for their interests will wear thin. The duty of the authorities in this situation is to do nothing more than correctly manage the country’s wealth to improve the people’s livelihoods and that through these means, will the protests subside.”

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