Al-Rahi Says Coexistence in Lebanon a Leading Example
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi stressed on Tuesday the importance of equality between Muslims and Christians in Lebanon, reiterating that the fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) are not linked to Islam.
“Lebanon is a model for coexistence between Muslim and Christian. They both live equally,” al-Rahi said from the Australian capital Canberra.
He pointed out that Christians should maintain their presence in the region to achieve integration with Muslims.
“Christians shouldn't continue with their divisions,” al-Rahi said.
The patriarch traveled to Australia at the end of October on a two-week pastoral visit.
Concerning the rising threat of ISIL in the region, al-Rahi admitted that the Middle East is going “through difficult stages,” differentiating between terrorist organizations and takfiri groups.
“The jihadists are not all Muslims... It (ISIL) includes all kinds of mercenaries and sick and worried people, who are being exploited,” he added.
He called on ISIL group to engage in a humanitarian dialogue.
The IS group has declared a so-called Islamic "caliphate" in the territory it controls in Syria and Iraq, imposing its extreme interpretation of Islam and executing opponents.
A U.S.-led coalition of Western and Arab nations has carried out a wave of air strikes on IS positions in Iraq and Syria, with around 34 nations committed to the fight against the group.
H.K.
G.K.
04 November 2014, 10:21
21
Long live coexistence, friendship and love among all our communities.
04 November 2014, 10:38
13
Well that's the funniest thing I heard all day. A country that racism is second nature, everyone is so religion dependent that social affairs are handled in religious courts. A country that is continuously torn with civil wars and strifes. Almost all religions are segregated. Yeah if this is a great example of coexistence I hate to see a worst example!
04 November 2014, 17:26
00
A civil war that even didn't end so far and hundred of thousands of dead, that's a leading example? You can't even marry someone from another "community". If you wanna marry a "muslim" woman and you are "christian" (i.e. born from christian parents), you simply can't. Racism and sectarian hatred is the basis of all evils in Lebanon.
And there is still no president because of sectarian ridiculous laws.
How can this being a leading example? The sectarian issue makes Lebanon an apartheid State torn in internal wars and conflicts.
04 November 2014, 18:17
00
The biggest stupidity is to pretend that Lebanese are tolerant to other religions than their own,Why? because through decades the religious heads brainwashed their followers to not trust people from another religion. it is that simple! and the biggest tragedy is that the majority of the Lebanese are not aware of this reality. Coexistence ?, how ironic! this is a mental masturbation of the religious leaders of this country. This country has no future because of the religions.
