Stressing that the premiership in Lebanon should not be “targeted with violence,” Grand Mufti Mohammed Rashid Qabbani warned against overthrowing the cabinet through street action.

Stressing that the premiership in Lebanon should not be “targeted with violence,” Grand Mufti Mohammed Rashid Qabbani warned against overthrowing the cabinet through street action.

We will not allow the government to be toppled through street action,” the Mufti declared during the Eid al-Adha Muslim prayers in Beirut's al-Amin mosque.

The Mufti condemned the “inciting instincts” which are “in the name of sects for political purposes” as foolish.

“Lebanon is a country of principles, peaceful democracy, and state institutions and we therefore cannot accept that the government be overthrown through the street,” he said, adding that overthrowing the government was not accepted years ago, “and will never” been accepted.

“The premiership is a symbol for us and all the Lebanese people… Abandoning the constitution means the destruction of the republic and country,” Qabbani stressed.

He considered the assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau chief Wissam al-Hasan “part of conspiracy against Lebanon.”

The Mufti also slammed the sectarian regime in Lebanon as saying: “It is time to impose new rules of action and eliminate the sectarian germ in order for your sons to enjoy hope in the future.”