Mawlawi Confirms Fleeing Ain el-Hilweh to Prevent Muslim Bloodshed

Fugitive Islamist Shadi al-Mawlawi confirmed on Wednesday that he left the southern Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh ending speculations over his whereabouts.

“We only left Ain el-Hilweh to avoid the shed of Muslim blood,” Mawlawi said via his account on Twitter.

Mawlawi disappeared from the northern city of Tripoli following gunbattles between his followers and the Lebanese army in October.

On Sunday, media reports said that Mawlawi fled the camp disguised in women clothes and using fake identification papers, the same way he entered it in November.

Mawlawi was expected to issue a statement or a voice message to confirm the report.

His location was a dilemma despite a confirmation by Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq that the most-wanted suspect fled to the northeastern border town of Arsal and joined al-Nusra Front ranks.

According to As Safir newspaper published on Wednesday, the army intelligence insists that Mawlawi is still keeping a low profile at the southern Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh, in particular in the Taamir neighborhood, while the Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau said he moved to Arsal.

A high-ranking security source also revealed in comments to al-Joumhouria newspaper that al-Mawlawi is in Ain el-Hilweh's al-Taware' neighborhood under the protection of a powerful wanted Palestinian fugitive.

The daily said that the controversy loomed after Palestinian officials, who were tasked with following up the case, assumed that Mawlawi fled the camp after the side that was protecting him informed them that he is no longer with them.

Informed sources told As Safir newspaper that the Lebanese authorities warned the Palestinian factions that maintaining the stability of the camp requires them not to turn it into a hub for dangerous fugitives.

H.K.

G.K.