Lebanon's Grand Mufti Warns of Danger of Boycotting Parliamentary Elections

Derian leads Eid al-Fitr prayers in Downtown Beirut. (NNA)
Derian leads Eid al-Fitr prayers in Downtown Beirut. (NNA)
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Lebanon's Grand Mufti Warns of Danger of Boycotting Parliamentary Elections

Derian leads Eid al-Fitr prayers in Downtown Beirut. (NNA)
Derian leads Eid al-Fitr prayers in Downtown Beirut. (NNA)

Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian warned against the danger of boycotting the upcoming parliamentary elections, calling for a heavy turnout.

During his Eid al-Fitr sermon on Monday, Derian stressed the importance to seize “the opportunity to achieve change through the elections.”

The prayers were attended by Prime Minister Najib Mikati, former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and a number of ambassadors, including Kuwaiti Ambassador Abdul-Al Al-Qenaei.

The Grand Mufti lashed out at those who “turned Lebanon into a failed state,” saying: “None of those useless ones has the courage to admit what their dirty hands committed in corruption and illicit dealings. They classify themselves as angels and saints in order to return to the crime scene again. Beware of their deceptive and misleading statements.”

He went on to say: “They try to make the abuser a well-doer and the criminal a hero, elevating the useless to the highest levels of praise and honor. They are the ones who transformed Lebanon into a failed state begging for water, electricity and bread.”

Derian stressed that the parliamentary elections “are an opportunity for us to change.”

“Let it be a change for the better,” he underlined.

He said that the Lebanese were “capable of rebuilding their country and restoring the collapsed state institutions, based on the selection of members of parliament, which is the gateway to the desired reform.”

The elections are scheduled for May 15.

Following the prayers, Mikati and Siniora visited the tomb of late Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in downtown Beirut.



Syria Reaches Deal to Integrate SDF within State Institutions, Presidency Says

A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) shaking the hand of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander-in-chief Mazloum Abdi after the signing of an agreement, to integrate the SDF into the state institutions, in the Syrian capital Damascus on March 10, 2025. (SANA / AFP)
A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) shaking the hand of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander-in-chief Mazloum Abdi after the signing of an agreement, to integrate the SDF into the state institutions, in the Syrian capital Damascus on March 10, 2025. (SANA / AFP)
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Syria Reaches Deal to Integrate SDF within State Institutions, Presidency Says

A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) shaking the hand of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander-in-chief Mazloum Abdi after the signing of an agreement, to integrate the SDF into the state institutions, in the Syrian capital Damascus on March 10, 2025. (SANA / AFP)
A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) shaking the hand of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander-in-chief Mazloum Abdi after the signing of an agreement, to integrate the SDF into the state institutions, in the Syrian capital Damascus on March 10, 2025. (SANA / AFP)

The Kurdish-led and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which controls much of Syria's oil-rich northeast, has signed a deal agreeing to integrate into Syria's new state institutions, the Syrian presidency said on Monday.

The deal, which included a complete cessation of hostilities, was signed by interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and the SDF's commander, Mazloum Abdi.

Under the deal, whose text was posted online by the presidency, all civilian and military institutions in northeast Syria will be integrated within the state, which will thus take over control of borders, airports and oil and gas fields.

The SDF agrees to support the government in combating remnants of deposed president Bashar al-Assad's regime, and any threats to Syria's security and unity.

Since Assad was overthrown by Sharaa's Islamist forces in December, groups backed by Türkiye, one of Sharaa's main supporters, have clashed with the SDF, the main ally in a US coalition against ISIS militants in Syria.

The SDF is spearheaded by the YPG militia, a group that Ankara sees as an extension of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants who have fought the Turkish state for 40 years.

Türkiye regards the PKK, YPG and SDF as terrorist groups, and Sharaa's new Damascus administration had been pressing the SDF to merge into newly-minted state security forces.

Abdi had previously expressed a willingness for his forces to be part of the new defense ministry, but said they should join as a bloc rather than individuals, an idea that was rejected by the new government.

The US and Türkiye’s Western allies list the PKK as a terrorist group, but not the YPG or the SDF.