President of the National Dialogue Party, MP Fouad Makhzoumi, visited Lebanon’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, at Dar Al-Fatwa to congratulate him on the occasion of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday (Mawlid al-Nabi al-Sharif). He was accompanied by Ibrahim Zeidan, Executive Deputy Chairman of the Party’s Administrative Board; Dr. Duraid Oweidat, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Dialogue Party; Samer Al-Safah, Director General of the Makhzoumi Foundation; Nabih Naamani, a member of the Political Bureau; and Marwan Sabban, Director of Social Media Networks. They discussed matters concerning Dar Al-Fatwa and the general situation in the country.
Following the meeting, Makhzoumi said that the visit was intended to congratulate His Eminence on the occasion of the Prophet’s birthday. He reiterated his condemnation of offenses against the Prophet Muhammad and stressed the importance of respecting religious beliefs and differences in opinions and orientations. He affirmed that Islam is a religion of tolerance and peace and that he would not accept it being stigmatized as a religion of terrorism. He condemned the attacks in France, as well as acts of terrorism in general. He noted that Lebanon is a country characterized by diversity and pluralism, with numerous religions and sects, and stressed that it is in no one’s interest for the extremism and radicalism witnessed recently to spill over into Lebanon.
On another note, Makhzoumi observed that the way government consultations were being conducted had taken Lebanon back to the period before October 17, referring to the popular uprising that began in 2019. He said that agreements were being reached among the ruling political parties whose departure the protesters had demanded, chanting the slogan “All of them means all of them.” He expressed hope that the new government would be a rescue government and that, immediately upon its formation, it would work to fulfill the demands of the revolution, particularly those relating to a forensic audit, combating corruption, and recovering embezzled public funds. Otherwise, he warned, the situation would continue to deteriorate. He also expressed regret over the absence of international support, particularly from the Gulf Arab states, and ruled out the prospect of Lebanon receiving assistance.
Regarding the forensic audit, Makhzoumi said that what he had repeatedly warned against—the deliberate undermining of the audit by stripping it of its substance—had come to pass. Addressing the Governor of Banque du Liban, he asked: “Why did we witness a decline in the dollar exchange rate after Saad Hariri was designated to form the government? How did this happen, and whose money was used?”
Makhzoumi called on the government, as soon as it is formed, to develop swift and fundamental solutions to the country’s healthcare, economic, livelihood-related, and social challenges.