Kabbara Slams 'Arbitrary Arrests' in Tripoli: Oppression of Sunnis Leads to Unexpected Reactions

The Islamic National Gathering slammed on Thursday the “arbitrary arrests targeting the sons of Tripoli” in northern Lebanon, warning that the “oppression of the Sunni sect will result in unexpected reactions.”

"We reject the arbitrary arrests of Tripoli's sons and we hold the Attorney General of the court of cassation and the judges fully responsible for any Sunni's detention,” al-Mustaqbal bloc MP Mohammed Kabbara announced after a meeting with the northern city's figures.

Kabbara warned that “the continuous security oppression of the Sunni sect will lead to unexpected reactions,” and deplored the campaigns against Ameed Hammoud.

Hammoud was one of those who funded the Bab al-Tabbaneh fighting frontier's leaders in Tripoli and he is believed to be close to al-Mustaqbal Movement. But after the arrest of the fighting leaders, they accused Hammoud of turning his back on them and abandoning them.

The al-Mustaqbal MP also called for treating the detainees “according to the law and for taking into consideration citizens' defense of their homes” and demanded transferring them out of the “inhumane” al-Rihaniyeh military prison of Baabda.

"Only military personnel should be held in al-Rihaniyeh, according to the law, and it is not suitable for civilians,” he noted.

But he called on the city's residents not to resort to blocking roads and roundabouts.

Nevertheless, Kabbara also assured that the conferees hold onto the security plan that succeeded in achieving a ceasefire in Tripoli.

Al-Mustaqbal bloc had said on Tuesday that many of the arrests in Tripoli were based on investigations that were conducted under psychological and mental pressure, considering that this resulted in launching accusations of terrorism against people “who were merely tasked with carrying guns.”

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Y.R.