Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi has handed the Parliament a request on Thursday to lift MP Moeen Merehbi’s immunity over his remarks against the Lebanese army.

Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi has handed the Parliament a request on Thursday to lift MP Moeen Merehbi’s immunity over his remarks against the Lebanese army.

Local media outlets reported on Thursday that the Parliament’s general secretariat had received the request from Qortbawi at the behest of the Army Command.
Media outlets said that the request was made after the army command accused Merehbi incitement against the military institution.

In an interview with al-Manar, Qortbawi saidthat the government was committed to defend the Lebanese army, stressing that it is carrying the law.

Following the request Merehbi told LBCI television that he “is ready to be tried.”
He added that he hoped all powers, regardless of their rank, would be held accountable as well.

The MP had on July 31 slammed the army commander General Jean Qahwaji as an “unsuccessful person,” accusing him of being “responsible for all the mistakes and seditions.”

The lawmaker also said the army commander is “an employee who should do his job,” accusing him of “exploiting the (military) institution in order to become the next president of the republic.”

Later on that day, the army command that it had “launched measures aimed at prosecuting Merehbi” after he “insisted on attacking the military institution and insulting its leadership.”

In a statement issued in response to Merehbi’s remarks, the military institution said: “Let the lawmaker know that all the officers and soldiers of the army are not his employees, but rather the servants of all the Lebanese people, and they only abide by the decisions of the legitimate authorities and the collective national will.”