Rifi: Tripoli Stronger than Troublemakers and We Should not Be Worried

Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi on Saturday assured that moderation will stand strong in the northern city of Tripoli in the face of "troublemakers" and “dark rooms.”

Rifi discussed with a delegation of northern figures, religious men, heads of associations and mayors “the suspicious campaign that aims at harming Tripoli's national role and religious coexistence.”

"Some are acting based on instinctual drives and others are receiving orders from 'operation rooms' that act as spies and seek to drive the country towards religious and sectarian strife,” he said.

He elaborated: “Sectarian statements and incitement in Tripoli, the North and throughout the country confirm that there are dark rooms trying to spread rumors and push some innocents to adopt intrinsic stances and plant sedition among the Lebanese.”

"But we will not be dragged into sedition... and we should not worry about Tripoli because it is stronger than those troublemakers, operation rooms and yellow journalism,” he assured.

"And as such, wisdom, moderation, and forgiveness... must rise above these dark rooms,” he urged.

He added that these characters are what best describe both Muslims and Christians.

"Out religion, Islam, stresses moderation and accepting others,” Rifi noted.

He revealed that he is in continuous contact with “political and religious authorities of all sects to stress the need for awareness amid the current critical situation.”

Separately, the Justice Minister hailed uncovering the identity of the operator of the Free Sunnis of Baalbek Brigade Twitter account as a “heroic job.”

"This conspiracy seeks to shake stability in Lebanon,” he said, remarking that another discovery will soon be made regarding the identity of “Free Crusader Brigade” Twitter account operators.

The Internal Security Forces announced on Thursday evening the arrest of Hussein al-Hussein, the operator of the Free Sunnis of Baalbek Brigade's Twitter account, revealing that he a 19 years old man who hails from the Bekaa's Baalbek region.

The vague group has claimed responsibility for several rocket and bomb attacks inside Lebanon, the last of which were the suicide blasts in Dahr al-Baydar and Raouche's Duroy Hotel.

It has also threatened to target Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq, army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji and Maj. Suzan al-Hajj, chief of the Internal Security Forces' Cyber Crime and Intellectual Property Protection bureau.

S.D.B.