Press Release
The Authority’s “Innovative” Approach:
Arbitrary Arrests, Intimidation and Gagging!!!
(Translated)

When the former mufti Sheikh Dr. Bassam Taras was arrested they intimidated us, and said that the Sheikh was involved, and what is needed now is to reduce the protests against arbitrary detention so that you will not be accused of being involved with him, but this has only increased our determination to continue... The Sheikh was released with no charge linked to him, after the media filled the airwaves with taunts against the Sheikh, by spreading fabricated leaks indicating the extent of "involvement" of the Sheikh in the (terrorism) file!

And it turned out in the end that the issue has no basis or support. But later on it was confirmed after the Sheikh’s release, what we said in the beginning, that there is systematic injustice and deliberate practice by the Lebanese authority against opponents of the US decision through its tools in Lebanon, led by Iran’s Hezbollah, that is flexing its muscle inside Lebanon by the force of arms, but even on foreign policy, until the injustice became apparent and deliberate against the pro-revolution "rebel" group, through these tools, to subjugate them so they do not think of posing a challenge.

And why not, since in a televised interview, the head of the authority has declared that the decision of the presence of Iran's ruling party in Syria is bigger than Lebanon! The arrogance and injustice is not exclusive to those tools, but this became the reality of the authority that made a deal with Iran’s party and its allies within Lebanon and says to this “rebel” group: Everyone has given in, so why are you rebelling?

It reached a point that this group is forbidden to account those who claim to represent it. It is forbidden on them even to write or tweet or make statements against this government. Arrogance has become rampant in the government without regard to any legal foundations, that is if the government has any consideration for the law. It made winning the next election, despite the low ratings of its men as was shown in municipal elections, the desired target they want to achieve through gagging voices of dissent even by word, and not against all, but against those whom it claims to represent!

The arrogance and abuse policy is exercised on behalf of the Minister of Interior who is affiliated through organizational, political and administrative means to the president. They arrested the media student Tariq Ash-Shimali, and less than a month after his arrest, they arrested arbitrarily also without an injunction Sister Bushra Futtouh, and yesterday Sheikh Mohiuddin Antar was summoned by the authority after he objected to the repressive government policy pursued by the prime minister against the Muslim supporters of the blessed revolution of Ash-Sham. It seems that the focus of this government and authority will be against anyone who will raise his voice loudly, refusing their approach and alliances with the murderers of our people in Ash-Sham, even by word, even a tweet that does not have more than 140 characters!!

This is a systematic practice intended to break the determination and spread despair and lack of vision ...to the authority in general and the president of the government in particular, we say:

The Muslims in Lebanon did not support Ash-Sham’s revolution for a worldly trade, and not to ride a passing wave ... but because Ash-Sham is a natural extension for them to the Muslim world in general. The subjugation of Muslims’ policy of the government represented by its president will face rejection, and the repression and arbitrary arrests policy that you carry out will not benefit you. Muslims are not sheep to be herded wherever you please, and the subject of the revolution and its support has become the core position of Muslims in Lebanon, even if it is sold by the one who claims to represent it or allies with its enemy... So stop this policy and approach practiced by the rulers before you in the region, you have witnessed what was their fate, even if after a while, so take heed.

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Wilayah Lebanon