Divisive Arsal sheikh charged with belonging to Nusra Front

BEIRUT: Sheikh Mustafa Hujeiri, a former negotiator in Lebanon's hostage crisis, was charged Tuesday with belonging to the Nusra Front. A military judge is seeking the death penalty against the Arsal resident. Hujeiri, a Salafist sheikh, rose to prominence when he became a key intermediary between the Committee of Muslim Scholars and the Islamist militants holding at least 21 Lebanese servicemen hostage in the outskirts of Arsal.

A source in Arsal told The Daily Star that the sheikh had lived outside Arsal for most of his life, during which time he began to follow Salafist teachings. Hujeiri previously lived in Sidon and reportedly maintains strong ties with Salafist sheikhs in Tripoli. He is also said to have travelled between Syria and Pakistan.

The sheikh started visiting Arsal ten years ago, and he later on built a mosque that he named after himself.

FSA commander in Qalamoun Bassil Idriss said that Abu Taqiyyeh, Hujeiri’s nom de guerre, was responsible for overseeing humanitarian and medical aid for Syrian refugees.

He opened a field hospital in his mosque, where both civilians and opposition fighters have been treated. His operations, according to a source, are financed by Salafists in Lebanon and abroad.

Rumors began that the hybrid mosque/hospital was being used as a hub for Nusra fighters.

A doctor at the infirmary, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, denied the most recent accusations against the Sheikh. The doctor said that the “charges claimed the second floor of his mosque was being used as militant base, but that is not true.”

Hujeiri was previously indicted for the killing of two army officers in Arsal in January 2013 and is being tried in absentia.

Known of late as the emir of Nusra in Arsal, Hujeiri is a divisive figure. “A lot of people believe that he drew Arsal into the troubles,” said one Arsal resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Others, however, say he was instrumental in the release of several kidnapped soldiers.

Hujeiri facilitated the release of seven hostages held by the Nusra Front. Four soldiers and a policeman were released on Aug. 30, while two policemen were freed on Aug.18.

Hujeiri is also credited with facilitating visits by the abducted soldiers’ families last month. The sheikh accompanied abducted soldier George Khoury’s family to the outskirts in order for them to meet with their son. Hujeiri is also said to have done the same for Rana Fliti, the wife of captured soldier Ali Bazzal.

But in the heat of the Arsal battle, multiple sources told The Daily Star that the kidnapped soldiers and ISF members were held briefly in Hujeiri’s Arsal mosque. A member of the first team that negotiated the cease-fire in Arsal, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the servicemen had been held in the mosque during the clashes before being spirited to the outskirts.

Hujeiri spoke with LBCI television Tuesday about the new charges against him. “Is this how they thank me for what I did for the kidnapped soldiers?” he asked.

Also Tuesday, a military court postponed the trial of more than 50 people suspected of being involved in clashes in Abra, including radical preacher Ahmad Assir and singer Fadel Shaker, until Nov. 18.

A judicial source said the postponement was due to the fact that Alaaeddine al-Baba, a suspect who was released on bail, was part of the Lebanon Football Federation taking part in games outside the country.