Suleiman Slams Kidnappings, Judicial Authorities Must Issue Warrants against Captors
President Michel Suleiman condemned on Tuesday the series of kidnappings that have taken place in Lebanon in recent days, saying that the retaliatory abductions will not help ensure the release of the 11 Lebanese pilgrims.
He demanded that the judicial authorities “take immediate actions” and issue arrest warrants against the perpetrators, who have kidnapped Syrian and Turkish nationals in Lebanon.
“These developments will only complicate matters and efforts to release the captives,” he added.
These incidents also tarnish Lebanon’s image and reputation, remarked the president.
“The recent events have been acts of defiance against the state and Lebanon’s ties with fraternal countries,” Suleiman noted.
Eleven Lebanese pilgrims were kidnapped in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo on their way home from a pilgrimage to Iran on May 22. Conflicting reports have emerged on their fate after Syrian government forces shelled the area of Aazaz where they were being held.
Lebanese Hassan Salim al-Meqdad was allegedly kidnapped by the Free Syrian Army last week in Damascus which prompted his family’s previously unknown military wing to abduct several Syrians and a Turkish citizen to press the release of Hassan.
Another Turkish national has also been kidnapped but it was not clear who was behind his abduction.
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