Grand Mufti of the Republic Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian received Deputy Speaker of Parliament Elias Bou Saab at Dar al-Fatwa, in the presence of Supreme Islamic Sharia Council member lawyer Mohammad Murad.
After the meeting, Bou Saab said: "We consider Dar al-Fatwa to belong to all Lebanese, and from this standpoint I had to make this visit to His Eminence to brief him on the discussions taking place in Parliament, especially on the issue of the general amnesty law. As I had expected, His Eminence knows that this law is before Parliament and that MPs are carrying out their duties. What is required is justice, and we had affirmed to His Eminence that any law issued must be fair and lawful, not a law crafted for the benefit of individuals, but one dealing with specific crimes. Therefore, the matter is in Parliament. If we are able to reach a conclusion between now and Monday, God willing, Monday will be the final session of the joint committees, and I hope that the points of disagreement have become very limited and very narrow. I reiterate that His Eminence says this matter is before Parliament, and the MPs are the ones concerned with approving this law. We hope justice will prevail, and we are working on that basis."
Derian also received MP Ahmad al-Khair, accompanied by the heads of the municipalities of the Minieh Union and the head of the region’s Zakat Fund, in the presence of Supreme Islamic Sharia Council member Sheikh Fayez Seif.
After the meeting, MP al-Khair said: "We discussed with His Eminence the general conditions the country is going through, in addition to specific matters concerning the city of Minieh. During the meeting, we affirmed that Dar al-Fatwa is the المرجعية we rely on at all times to preserve Lebanon’s unity. It serves as a safety valve at the domestic level, and Dar al-Fatwa represents our national, Arab, and Islamic line. We turn to it at every juncture and amid all the challenges facing Lebanon in order to be guided by its wisdom and national positions."
He added: "The meeting was an opportunity to discuss with His Eminence the latest developments related to the general amnesty law and the ongoing discussions in the joint committees, as we placed His Eminence in the picture of the pivotal atmosphere surrounding this law. This law came as a result of the absence of justice over the past years. Lifting the injustice suffered by a large number of detainees whose trials have been delayed for years is necessary, as is addressing the emerging situation in Lebanese prisons, especially the issue of overcrowding and the difficult living conditions inside detention centers and prisons. We hope to reach positive results regarding this law with the aim of restoring cohesion within Lebanon and closing contentious files."
He continued: "We stress the need to unite behind the state and its decisions and behind the presidency of the republic, considering the amnesty law an opportunity to unify the internal front. In conclusion, we presented to His Eminence development demands concerning the administrative area of Minieh, hoping to achieve them in cooperation with the municipalities and the Zakat Fund in service of the city and its people, who support the path of national action."
