Moderate Shiite cleric Sayyed Ali al-Amin said the Shiites in Lebanon and the Arab world support their states and reject the Iran-styled Faqih Rule, and called for a judiciary investigation in assaults carried out by Hizbullah against Beirut.

Amin, in an interview with Naharnet, said the “Shiite communities in Lebanon and the Arab World believe in state rule and do not believe in the rule of the Faqih in Iran.”

“The Faqih rule in Iran has become a political regime. If I support any (foreign) political regime this means that I would disagree with the political regime that rules me. This is totally unacceptable,” Amin said.

Amin, who was removed by the Hizbullah-influenced Higher Shiite Islamic Council from his post of Mufti of Tyre and Mount Amel, criticized Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s recent speech as “non moderate.”

“It was a strongly-worded speech not different from previous fiery speeches,” Amin said of Nasrallah’s address on the eighth anniversary of liberation day.

Amin praised President Michel Suleiman’s oath address saying it was “moderate and reflected the viewpoint of the Lebanese People.”

Asked to comment on the Higher Shiite Islamic Council’s decision that removed him from the post of Mufti, Amin said: “We don’t have militias to force the council to withdraw its decision.”

He was referring to Hizbullah’s attack against west Beirut on May eight that forced Premier Fouad Saniora’s former government to withdraw two decisions that Hizbullah had opposed.

Amin said the “silent majority” of Shiites that he belongs to is mushrooming and “in the forthcoming elections we would support whoever reflects its views” that contradict Hizbullah and allied AMAL Movement, headed by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

Amin asked if the Hizbullah assault on Beirut was “launched upon a permission from Iran … This would pose a major problem to Iran in the Arab and Muslim worlds.”

Amin called for the formation of “investigation committees” to look into what has happened in Beirut.

“The Doha Accord should have included a clause on the investigation committee because it would re-assure the population.”

Amin also said Hizbullah “should apologize” for what it has done and the government should pledge to refer what has happened to the judiciary.




1 Comment. Add your own...

  • 1. Rodge | June 3rd, 2008 at 2:24 pm

    They criticize the Government and the March 14 people, and they are accusing everybody of refusing to share, but when one of them, who is a very respectful and straight man and religious figure speaks his own mind, they can’t stand him.

    The problem isn’t with Amal or Hizb, the problem is in the Shiites Higher Council, where all the decisions are influenced by the Hizb now (sorry i mean from Iran and Khamenii), so they removed him without any religious justification, knowing that he was the Moufti of Tyre and Jabal Amel, and who knows well the Shiites knows the importance of Jabal Amel area for them through the history.



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