Beirut, on November 11, 2014

His Eminence the Sheikh Akl of the Druze Unitarian Community the Sheikh Naim Hassan received at the House of the Community in Verdun-Beirut, the Mufti of the Lebanese Republic the Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, accompanied by the secretary of Al Fatwa at the Lebanese Republic the Sheikh Amin El Kurdy, the Chancellor Judge the Sheikh Mohamad Assaf, the Secretary General of the Islamo-Christian National Committee for dialogue Dr. Mohamad El Sammak in presence of the President of the Supreme Druze Court of Appeal the Judge the Sheikh Faysal Nasreddine, the Judge the Sheikh Fouad Hamdan, the Counselor of Sheikhdom Akl the Sheikh Ghassan El Halabi and the Sheikh Sami Abdul Khalek. Following the meeting, the Mufti Derian pronounced a speech as follows:

“I am visiting today his Eminence the Sheikh Akl of the Druze Community Naim Hassan at his confessional referential place. His Eminence is known at the religious level and at the Islamic and national levels as well, as a main important reference. This is my first visit to this national Religious Palace after being designated for the position of Mufti at the Lebanese Republic. I wanted this visit to this honorable House to be as a fortification for the bonds of Islamic union that his Eminence the Sheikh Akl and I hope it would be at its finest levels, since we believe that if the Islamic union was in a good state, the national union would be consequently in a better state. We have totally agreed with his Eminence the Sheikh Akl that our move in the future should be wise within the numerous frameworks that we will consent upon with him. There is no way to a disagreement for any detail between the authority of Dar Al Fatwa and the one of the House of the Druze Community, as we have the same goal and we share the same responsibilities at this tough time that our country Lebanon is going through. Our heavy responsibility resides in the attempts to get Lebanon and our Islamic communities out and away from the repercussions that are happening around.

While the deputies have extended their period at the Parliament, the time has come to put the presidential file under a quick process because our national condition cannot be more delayed, knowing that the absence of the presidential election keeps Lebanon exposed to all the potential risks.  

At this stage, we need more than anytime to gather up our Lebanese situation as quickly as possible. At the Islamic level, we will be making practical moves to fortify it, also at the national level, we will be taking steps to fortify this frame uniting all the Lebanese. However, we need all this under the wings of a powerful State that would never exist without a President of the Republic. Otherwise, institutions will remain paralyzed and chaotic. Therefore, the Lebanese are looking forward today to achieve this election, since it is considered as a priority for their life. Many other files need to be done as well; mainly the file of the kidnapped militaries. Although I am aware that the latter issue is taken into consideration by the government and the Cabinet President Tammam Salam, we hope that they accelerate the steps to achieve it. It is to mention that what is taking place in Palestine regarding the sanctifiers who are prevented from praying in Al-Aksa Mosque, also constitutes an issue of high importance. This is a pure Arabic Islamic issue for which we all have to unite in order to put an end to oppression and call all the Arab and Islamic countries to support the sanctifiers and back them in Jerusalem, prevent the Israeli Judaization for this city and Islamic Arab Capital.

I say it to everyone that it is time for all of us in Lebanon to prioritize the demands in this area. We call everyone to be united in solidarity and to go for the dialogue for the benefit of Lebanon and its citizens as we all agreed to live together as brothers and sisters, since it is with charity and respect that we live tranquilly and peacefully in Lebanon.

 We support his Eminence the Sheikh Akl whether at the Islamic or national level and we look forward for many future common activities that will reflect a good effect on Lebanon, by the will of God”.

His Eminence the Sheikh Akl Naim Hassan replied stating the following:

“We welcome you your Eminence the Mufti and your respectable companions at your House. Before your designation, we knew you with your decent personality and you occupy a large place in our heart. We wish you all the luck in your missions asking God to help us follow the right path and serve our country and people. As you mentioned in your speech, we, praise be to God, seek in our union and solidarity to anchor the Islamic union. We believe that the Islamic union is necessary to go forward toward other issues at the national level, in particular the national union. We have agreed to reinforce the State and support the Lebanese army so that we come to the election of a president of the republic, and the time has come for doing so. The situation in Palestine should also be mentioned, without forgetting to condemn the Israeli violations on Al-Aksa Mosque, which is the Palestinian issue for which the United Nations were unfortunately unable to find any solution for it since more than sixty-five years. For how long this population will still face such life tragedies and difficulties even in the countries hosting these people.

We have deep faith in God. His Almighty said: “So whosever does good equal to the weight of an atom shall see it and whosever does evil equal to the weight of an atom shall see it”

We hold our hands together, by the will of God, for the good actions. Welcome to our House and God be with you.