The Fatwa House in Mount Lebanon warned against calls to separate the Naameh region from the Haret Naameh municipality, considering that dividing the municipalities on sectarian lines threatens coexistence and contradicts the Taif Agreement.
Dar Al-Fatwa said, in a statement, that it is following “with great concern” the calls demanding the separation of the Naameh area from the Haret Al-Naameh municipality, and the accompanying speeches that incite sectarian and regional tensions.
She considered that working to divide municipalities on sectarian lines contradicts the spirit of the Taif Agreement, which stipulated the abolition of political sectarianism, considering that this approach does not serve coexistence, but rather establishes quotas and perpetuates division.
She added that the nation, burdened by crises and divisions, can no longer tolerate the attempts of some party and sectarian officials to incite feelings of division and separation between regions historically known for their cohesive and coexisting social fabric.
Dar Al-Fatwa stressed that the national and moral duty requires supporting municipalities and promoting their growth and development administratively, instead of weakening and fragmenting them in the service of factional and sectarian interests.
She also expressed her hope that the directions of President Nawaf Salam’s government towards moving away from the circle of sectarian quotas and distributions would be translated into practical steps, calling on the owners of sectarian projects to retreat from these proposals and give priority to the interest of national unity over division.
She concluded by emphasizing that confronting the accumulated crises in Lebanon is not by erecting walls of sectarian separation, but by strengthening confidence among the Lebanese and consolidating the values of citizenship and national unity, calling on everyone to be wise and bear national responsibility for preserving civil peace and protecting true partnership.
