BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel-Latif Derian assured Lebanese expatriates in Qatar Wednesday that the oil-rich Gulf emirate welcomed them as long as they respected its laws and did not commit any violations.
“Qatar opened its heart to you (Lebanese expatriates) and in return you should place Qatar in your heart by safeguarding (peaceful) life and respecting its laws,” Derian told the Lebanese expat community in Doha.
In his comments, Derian was implicitly assuring his audience that they would not be punished over the controversial speech made two weeks ago by Hezbollah chief Hasan Nasrallah in which he denounced Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member Bahrain for cracking down on its protest movement and arresting opposition leaders.
Derian said Qatari officials he had met during his visit assured him that the Lebanese are treated in a friendly and respectful way, and constitute an essential factor in the development of the Gulf country.
Derian had called on Tuesday, after a meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Thani in Doha, for respecting the principle of non-interference in the affairs of Arab countries, stressing that Nasrallah’s comments on Bahrain did not reflect the policies of Dar al-Fatwa, the highest Sunni religious authority in Lebanon.
Many Lebanese expats, especially Shiites, fear that their residence and businesses in GCC countries could be hurt if those countries impose punitive measures on them as a result of Lebanese politicians' criticisms of GCC policies.
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