Al-Rahi: We Asked France to Eliminate Hizbullah’s Excuses to Retain Arms
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi revealed on Tuesday that he had requested from France that the excuses for Hizbullah to maintain its possession of arms be eliminated.
He said during the Dar al-Fatwa spiritual summit: “We requested French assistance in eliminating its excuses to keep its weapons and help in strengthening the Lebanese army because only then can we say that the party no longer needs its arms.”
He made his request during his visit to France a few weeks ago.
Addressing Arab developments, he stated: “Regarding Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime and the need to introduce democracy in Syria, we as a church do not oppose any political system, but we support democracy, reform, justice, and freedoms.”
“We oppose violence regardless of which side it comes from,” al-Rahi added.
“We have seen the example of Iraq where democracy has turned into a civil war, which resulted in the immigration of Christians,” the patriarch noted.
“We hope that the developments in Syria won’t develop into a civil war between Sunnis and Alawites that may spread to Lebanon seeing as it too has Sunni and Alawite populations,” he warned.
He reiterated his fear of the ascension of extremist groups to power in Syria.
“Political choices are left to the political leaders, but the Patriarchate is demanding that national principles and mutual coexistence be respected,” the patriarch stressed.
over 12 years
now "porte-parole" of hassan.
ple monseigneur stop talking .
over 12 years
too late: he lost our trust.
we cannot trust such a person.
there is a review on going now in rome for his actions and comments.
over 12 years
It is very hard for me to criticize/disrespect the current patriarch since I held the position that those who criticized and disrespected patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir like General Klawn and Petit Prince should have been excommunicated from the church. I feel very strongly about respecting this important Christian post so I will refrain.
@ Rahi, may God give you the wisdom and courage to speak the truth for you are going down a path many of us can not and will not follow. Allah y’nawrak w’yihdik.
over 12 years
take it easy on this poor guy
over 12 years
who about this idea : if Hezbollah will give their arms to the Lebanese army , then the army will be so strong we will not need what so called resistance .dah ... i must missing something in the Patriarch logic if he has any . I'm a proud Maronite but i find my self totally at odd with this man
over 12 years
The ones holding arms are the ones making up the excuses and holding on to them. I have the feeling only a costly solution chechen style will get rid of the vermines!!
over 12 years
I long for the day when all religious figures from all sects stay out of politics altogether. That is what politicians are for and it is up to us to elect the ones we believe that represent our ideas . . .
Wishful thinking
over 12 years
i see that zionist information war department got very nervous because we have glorious patriarch
the rabid hyenas are desperately and helplessly howling.
over 12 years
let the french also close some refugee camps take the refugees to france
over 12 years
et il faut dire au gouvernement francais de nous rendre zouheir siddiq pour pouvoir le juge
over 12 years
When the Hezz arms are gone we expect immediate electricity payments.
over 12 years
عن جد أنا ما فهمت يعني اذا بفلسطين في مشاكل شو خصو حزب الله حتى يتسلح ببيروت وبلاسا وبالهرمل عن جد ما فهمت مع انو بقولو انا شوي ذكي
over 12 years
This Patriarch does not measure up to the belt of the Glorious Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir
over 12 years
This guy is still going off on a Tangent!! He should refrain from any further poltical dumb comments. He is not making any sense, I just hope that he doesn't think he "knows" what he is saying is right. Is he for real? The Iraqi Christians he talks about have been attacked by the Iranian and Syrian regimes' zombies over there, namely Al Sadr and HezbEbola terrorist thugs, that is what the Iranian regime has been envolved in the ME (along with sabbotaging oil fields and other infrstructure) and North Africa, they have worked on radicalizing both Shiites and some Sunni (mainly Palestinians) extremists and others. Their message is one of Hatred, Intolerance, and self destructive terror and oppression. The Criminal Iranian regime's daily incitement rhetoric of " The Islamic ME" is more than enough to show their intent towards this multi-Faith region of the World that has been this way for Thousands of years. Al Rahi should resign with immediate effect!!!
over 12 years
There is a serious realignment coming. Assad is gone. He is on borrowed time. The elimination of the Assad Regime, the possible partition of Syria and the reversion of the Alawites of Syria to minority status will put an end to the ability of Iran to project its power across the region into Lebanon through Hezbollah. Hezbollah will have to find a new basis to survive in Lebanon and this will come only through a political accomodation in Lebanon.
More than likely the new alignment will be Christian-Shia-Druze with the Hezbollah having to compromise and moderate in order to secure a Christian alliance. The Sunni in Lebanon by marginalizing Hariri will be marginalized, but not discriminated against. The Christians will be the gurantor of this moderation in the Sunni-Shia coexistence in Lebanon.
This is coming.
over 12 years
Honestly, I can't believe that anyone could think that Hizbullah will give give up their weapons without a fight. are we really that naive to work on eliminating the excuses for Hizbullah to have weapons? well let me tell you this. The only way to make hizbullah give up their weapons is by force.
over 12 years
Really boring. religion is the root of Lebanon's sufferings.
The Batrak is reverting to a more neutral position...
Now that is more of what we expect from the head of a religious sect!