Sidon Pro-al-Asir Rally Goes ahead despite Security Decision to Thwart it
A rally in support of fugitive Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir is took place on Friday as scheduled after the main weekly Muslim prayers.
The rally went ahead in spite of a decision taken by by-security council of the South on Wednesday to thwart such demonstrations outside of Sidon's Bilal bin Rabah Mosque.
Al-Asir was the imam of the mosque and the rally is being staged to demand the release of Sheikh Assem al-Arefi and 46 other supporters of the fugitive cleric.
Contacts intensified on Thursday to thwart the rally, but one of the clerics at the mosque told An Nahar published on Friday on condition of anonymity that the demonstration will be held.
He confirmed that the by-security council had informed the organizers of the rally that it would be thwarted “even if the security forces had to resort to opening fire.”
He responded however that the demonstration will be staged.
“Sidon MPs and its religious and political authorities, as well as Hizbullah, will be responsible for any drop of blood shed in the demonstration,” he warned.
Media reports said earlier this week that two of al-Asir's supporters Sheikhs Otham Hnaineh and Iyyad al-Saleh were released from custody after being given a stern warning against calling for a rally in support of the cleric.
The third cleric, al-Arefi, remains in custody.
He was arrested for taking part in the June Sidon clashes and for leading a campaign to garner al-Asir's supporters to rally in support of the fugitive.
Al-Asir's supporters were involved in armed clashes with the army in Sidon and nearby Abra region in June.
The clashes broke out when the gunmen opened fire at an army checkpoint.
Al-Asir's supporters and eye-witnesses have repeatedly accused Hizbullah fighters of being involved in the unrest.
Al-Asir, a 45-year-old cleric who supports the overwhelmingly Sunni rebels fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad, has been on the run since June.
over 10 years
mmmmmhhhhhhh didn't get the joke. what about the head?
over 10 years
what time its "after Friday Muslim prayers"?
over 10 years
ya guys.... Assir is on the run and needs to be judged. get over it.
over 10 years
this applies to chias as well then if I may speak freely.
over 10 years
nasrallah killer of LAF pilots... and thousand others.
over 10 years
100%. let us group those ugly bearded thugs in one place and arrest them all.
over 10 years
not proved he attacked laf soldiers, like UN did not prove nusra used chemicals u systematic liar...
over 10 years
Evil is what you are Flamer like your Hizbshitan and Company
over 10 years
Sometimes the state is controlled by terrorists.
over 10 years
flamethrower i always read ur posts and im highly impressed by ur intellegince level . you always tend to describe or analyse the problem from the angel u like or just shed the light on the reaction but not the cause or what triggered the problem .
over 10 years
...that sure does sound like a plan. A good pro democratic approach of support for judicial due process and freedom of speech, etc. etc. Lets all support the slaughter of citizens that openly oppose our opinions. You can insult me now...
Let them demonstrate. Asir was the only man who can fully satisfy them. Maybe they should call him Ras Asir.