The Mufti of the Republic, Abdellatif Deriane, surrounded by the three branches of power at Dar al-Fatwa, on February 19, 2026. (Credit: Photo taken from the X account of the presidency of the Republic)
Who wants the head of the mufti of the Republic? Two years before the end of Mufti Abdellatif Derian’s term, he could be pushed toward the exit. The State Council is expected to rule soon on an appeal challenging the 2023 decision that extended the retirement age of the mufti from 72 to 76.Beyond the legal challenge, the case comes amid growing tensions within the Sunni community over Sheikh Derian’s continued tenure, according to several officials interviewed by L’Orient-Le Jour. His name has also been linked for months to the “Abu Omar” affair, involving a man who allegedly posed as a Saudi prince and has been detained in Beirut. The case angered Riyadh and has resurfaced as Saudi Arabia seeks to reassert its influence in Lebanon.A disputed extensionIn 2023, the Higher Sharia Council, the decision-making body of Dar al-Fatwa, amended...
Who wants the head of the mufti of the Republic? Two years before the end of Mufti Abdellatif Derian’s term, he could be pushed toward the exit. The State Council is expected to rule soon on an appeal challenging the 2023 decision that extended the retirement age of the mufti from 72 to 76.Beyond the legal challenge, the case comes amid growing tensions within the Sunni community over Sheikh Derian’s continued tenure, according to several officials interviewed by L’Orient-Le Jour. His name has also been linked for months to the “Abu Omar” affair, involving a man who allegedly posed as a Saudi prince and has been detained in Beirut. The case angered Riyadh and has resurfaced as Saudi Arabia seeks to reassert its influence in Lebanon.A disputed extensionIn 2023, the Higher Sharia Council, the decision-making body of Dar al-Fatwa,...
