Future Movement leader Saad Hariri and Grand Mufti Abdellatif Deriane in Dar al-Fatwa on Jan. 20. (Credit: @saadhariri)
BEIRUT — Lebanon’s top Sunni religious authority, Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian, on Tuesday called three-time former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s withdrawal from political life “regrettable.”
Here’s what we know:
• “Saad Hariri's decision to suspend his political action is regrettable and painful, especially after the efforts he has made for years, in collaboration with Dar al-Fatwa,” said the mufti, in remarks reported by the state-run National News Agency.
• Derian said he was “worried about the developments on the Lebanese scene,” and called for “unity between Muslims, and at the national level, to face the challenges that the country is facing.”
• After several days of suspense, Hariri announced his decision to withdraw from political life yesterday. He will not participate in scheduled parliamentary elections this May and called on his political party, the Future Movement, to absent itself as well.
• Eyes are now turned towards other leading Sunni politicians to see whether they will follow suit and collectively attempt to bring about a Sunni boycott of the elections. Former Prime Minister Tamam Salam said last Thursday he will not participate in elections, but former Premier Fouad Siniora and Lebanon’s current Prime Minister Najib Mikati have not indicated their positions.
• Also Tuesday, the Lebanese Forces political party leader Samir Geagea, who in recent years has had a tense relationship with Hariri, said via Twitter that “in spite of all the differences between us and Saad Hariri … in this moment I can’t but show my personal compassion to sheikh Saad.”