Bkirki overwhelmed with support against attacks by Franjieh

 

Former minister, Suleiman Franjieh continued his attack against Lebanon’s Christian Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir . Late Wednesday Franjieh urged him to resign.

 

He told NBN television (a TV station owned by Speaker Nabih Berri, a key member in the Hezbollah led-opposition) he was expressing the thoughts and opinions of most Christians, “including bishops close to the prelate.”

 

“Sfeir is changing his positions very often. First he was against amending the Constitution, but he suddenly changed his mind after meeting with US Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman … One day he speaks of sovereignty and independence and another day he speaks about internationalization,” Franjieh told NBN.

 

“The patriarch should have resigned at the age of 74. He is 90 now and whenever he is told something, he forgets about it after one hour. The clerics around him ask us to be patient with him, but I think it is about time he gets some rest,” he added.

 

Franjieh criticized Sfeir for saying that Syria had its “tools” in Lebanon. “We are not tools. The patriarch is repeating what the ruling coalition says about us and for this he deserves to be criticized,” Franjieh said.

 

Franjieh , a key member of the Iranian and Syria backed Hezbollah led opposition asked why parliamentary majority leader MP Saad Hariri”s adviser Daoud Sayegh visits Sfeir only at the beginning of every month, indirectly accusing the patriarch of being employed by Hariri.

 

In a statement Tuesday, Franjieh accused the patriarch of being an employee of the US and French embassies.

Franjieh attack followed an attack by General Michel Aoun , another key member of Hezbollah led opposition who called Sfeir “ an ordinary citizen, allowed to express only his own opinion “

 

Franjieh attack against Sfeir, who is considered one of the most respected spiritual leaders in the region caused an outrage in Lebanon and several Lebanese leaders of all religions came out and spoke in support of the Cardinal.

 

– Lebanon’s Minister of Tourism, Joesph Sarkis was outraged . He could not believe that former Minister Suleiman Franjieh would assault Christian Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir.

 

He added : “I cannot believe that a Christian Maronite who is the son of a prominent Zgrtawiyeh family would utter such words against Patriarch Sfeir. Even his foreign masters ( meaning the Syrians and Iranians ) would never have dared to assault the patriarch in such a rude manner .”

 

“Just like every Christian , every Maronite , every Moslem partner , every Lebanese citizen , I was shocked by what I heard from Suleiman .”

– Former president Amine Gemayel visited Sfeir on Thursday and condemned the attacks against the patriarch.

“I regret that such attacks are carried out by Maronite leaders who should be supporting Bkirki and defending its role,” he said.

 

“The campaign against the patriarch is a late revenge for his past role in driving Syria out of Lebanon,” he added, referring to the famous Maronite Bishops statement in 2000, asking the Syrians to withdraw their forces from Lebanon. The Bishops statement came shortly after Israel pulled out its troops from South Lebanon, ending 29 years of occupation. Syria pulled out of the country in April 2005.

 

– A Lebanese Forces delegations visited Bkirki on Wednesday to show solidarity with Sfeir. Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea late Wednesday condemned Franjieh”s criticism of Sfeir, describing the terminology used by him as “unfamiliar and unethical.”

 

– A large March 14 delegations visited Bkirki Thursday evening to express solidarity with Sfeir But Sfeir responded by quoting the bible: “Father forgive them for they don”t know what they are doing,” Sfeir said

The delegation included Dr. Samir Geagea and his wife MP Streada Geagea , Hadi Habish, Fuad Saad, Henry Helou, Jawad Boulos, Antoine Zahra, Farid Habib , Carlos Eddeh, Ghattas Khoury, Eddeh abi Allamah , Michel Moawad, Faris Said, Michel Khoury, Camille Ziadeh, Antoine Haddad, Marwan Saqr .

 

Sfeir called for “unity amongst all the Lebanese , because the country is in big danger , since its people are divided and some are being directed from outside and serving the interest of those that are feeding them and directing them “ .

.
The visit to Sfeir followed a 6 :00 PM meeting of Christian leaders in the March 14 majority alliance at the residence of Dr. Geagea

– MP Boutros Harb, a March 14 presidential candidate also visited Sfeir,. He told reporters :
” Bkirki is the number one national Maronite shrine in Lebanon, we consider any attack against it as an attack on each and every one of us, the Maronite community, and Lebanon, because Bkirki is a crucial element of the Lebanese state and the unity of Lebanon”

 

He added: “the attacks against Bkirki are part of a conspiracy to strike at the Christian institutions following the presidential void ,since Lebanon has become a state without a president of the republic .”

 

He added : “I think it is time for all Lebanese and specially the Christians to realize that the target of these attacks is the Christian presence and role of the Christians in Lebanon . This we totally reject and we hereby proclaim our total support for Patriarch Sfeir and Bkirki .”

 

– Several other prominent leaders and organizations visited Bkirki , expressed full support for Sfeir and criticized Franjieh remarks

 

Bkirki was overwhelmed with the outpouring of support , love and the number of visitors. In a statement Bkirki asked its supporters to refrain from visiting Bkirki during the next 3 days to allow the Patriarch and the bishops to devote more time for prayers and to research ideas for getting the country out of its present crises.

 

Franjieh , the Grandson of former president Suleiman Franjieh is known for his crude behavior . People that know him well say he is one of the most immature politicians in Lebanon . “He always comes across as disrespectful , discourteous and irresponsible “. This is not the first time he attacks Sfeir , he has been rude to him before.

Picture: Sfeir with a the March 14 majority alliance delegation .The delegation included Dr. Samir Geagea and his wife MP Streada Geagea , Hadi Hubeish, Fouad Saad, Henry Helou, Jawad Boulos, Antoine Zahra, Farid Habib , Carlos Eddeh, Ghattas Khoury, Eddeh abi Allamah , Michel Moawad, Faris Said, Michel Khoury, Camille Ziadeh, Antoine Haddad, Marwan Saqr.