Grand Mufti of Lebanon: Enemy seeks youth migration from Middle East

The Grand Mufti of Lebanon stated that “with the continued migration of young people, the stability and security of our countries and citizens are undermined. This is what the enemy wants.”

In a statement released at the beginning of the new Islamic lunar year, Shaykh Abdul-Latif Daryan, the Grand Mufti of Lebanon, mentioned the critical situation facing the Middle East and stressed that one of the most serious threats which the youth in Lebanon, Syria and other countries in the region face are the economic crises and political and social pressures which have forced many to emigrate from their homelands in search of a better life.

According to Rasa, His Eminence added that the current security issue is the greatest danger facing the countries of region. “With the continued migration of young people, the stability and security of our countries and citizens are undermined,” he said.

“This is what the enemy wants,” he explained, “but we do not want to lose our young people and our unity and commonalities through these ‘holy wars’ waged against our people and our countries. The enemies seek to destabilize Muslim unity and the relationship between Muslims and Christians as well.”

Shaykh Daryan expressed his support of peaceful protests and encouraged the youth to join them. However, he warned that if some people take advantage of the tense atmosphere of the country for their evil goals, the protests will become chaotic and frenzied.

“Therefore, people should try to avoid violent protests and remain civilized in order to maintain stability and security in the country,” he said, adding that violent acts, such as the vandalism of state and personal property, would be to the detriment of the people and their country.

The Lebanese Sunni scholar said that the fall of the Lebanese government would destroy the country. Politicians must quickly choose the president of the country in order to end the crisis in the country.

“If the situation continues in this way, people will witness the collapse of the system,” stressed the cleric.

Lebanon has been stuck in a political crisis since former President Michel Sleiman’s tenure ended in May 2014, with the parliament still unable to choose a successor to him.

His Eminence called on political parties engaged in dialogue to use all of their efforts to end the current crises facing the divided country and work to prevent the Lebanese peoples’ further suffering over the multiple problems they face.

In regard to the issue of Palestine, Shaykh Daryan stated that what is occurring today in Palestine is a Zionist-American conspiracy. Through sedition and waging war on the Palestinian people, the Zionist regime has forced tens of millions people to migrate from their homeland since 1948.

He also explained that in the last five years, over 18 million Arabs have been displaced or fled their homelands due to the Zionist-led wars and the growth of the Takfiri phenomenon throughout the Middle East.