(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — A joint Christian-Muslim Summit was held in Beirut at Dar al-Fatwa to discuss the dangers facing Lebanon, including the persecution of Middle Eastern Christians in the face of threats by the Islamic State.
The meeting comes after the election of Lebanese Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian who stressed on the importance of safeguarding Lebanon from any religious strife.
Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani said that Christians and Muslims have nothing to fear from each other.
“We in Lebanon today, Muslims and Christians together, pledge to safeguard each other,” Qabbani said in his opening speech. He urged people of different religious groups to avoid conflict and “overwhelm their nation with unity.”
Attending the summit were also deputy head of the higher Shia council Sheikh Abdel Amir Kabalan, Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai, Druze leader Sheikh Naim Hasan and many other representatives of various religious sects.
In a statement, the summit members declared they would form a joint committee that will meet with Arab heads of state and religious leaders to tackle the various challenges especially the displacement and persecution of Christians in the Arab world.
“Lebanon needs a president who has the ability to lead the Lebanese toward common values,” the head of the dialogue committee, Mohammad al-Sammak, said.
Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri hailed a Lebanese Christian-Muslim summit which convened Thursday, particularly its call for a swift end to the presidential vacuum.
“I particularly praise the call released by the attendees to elect new president,” Hariri said in a statement.