Killing of Sheikh Ahmad Abdel Wahid condemned

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There are conflicting reports about the killing of Lebanese citizen Sheikh Ahmad Abdel Wahid who was reportedly shot at a Lebanese army checkpoint in Kweikhat, Akkar as he was heading to the northern Lebanese town of Halba to participate in a rally.

National News Agency reported on Sunday that an “armed convoy” carrying Sheikh Abdel Wahid refused to stop at a Lebanese army checkpoint in Akkar.

The report added that the Lebanese army opened fire when the convoy failed to stop, which led to the death of Sheikh Abdel Wahid and a bodyguard identified as Mohammad Hussein Merheb, both from the town of Al-Beri.

Abdel Wahid was scheduled to make a speech at a Jamaa al-Islamiya rally in Halba. The event has since been called off. The party has also issued a statement denying its involvement in the rally.

One of Abdel Wahid’s companions later recounted the details of the shooting to LBC, saying that the vehicle stopped at the checkpoint where some members of the army insulted Abdel Wahid, who said that he will no longer be heading to the rally.

He was then prevented from turning the car around and came under fire by the army members, added the clergyman’s companion.

On the other hand a security source later told MTV that the army checkpoint at Kweikhat came under gunfire and it was not the first to shoot at Abdul Wahid’s vehicle as had been reported.

Two separate rallies were planned for today in Halba to commemorate those who were killed during the May 7, 2008 clashes.

One rally was organized by the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP), and the other by families of some people who were allegedly killed by SSNP members.

Army offered condolences

The Lebanese army later issued a statement saying a “tragic incident” took place at an army checkpoint in the northern Lebanese village of Koueikhat in Akkar during which Abdel Wahid and his bodyguard were shot and killed.

The army offered its condolences to the families of the victims and said that it immediately formed a committee comprised of high-ranking military officers to investigate the incident.

Army accused of killing

LBC television station reported Sunday that residents of the Lebanese northern town of Halba are accusing the Lebanese army of “killing” Sheikh Abdel Wahed and his bodyguard.

The LBC report also said that residents in Sheikh Abdel Wahid’s village of Al-Beri have blocked the area’s main road.

Future bloc MP Khaled Daher told Al-Jazeera Sunday that the death of Sheikh Abdel Wahid “was a deliberate assassination operation.”

incident condemned

Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya on Sunday condemned the shooting which led to the death of Sheikh Abdel Wahid . The group called on the Lebanese army to immediately open a “fair” investigation into the incident.

Grand Mufti of the Lebanese Republic Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani said on Sunday that the death of Sheikh Abdel Wahid “was surprising and contemptible.”

He also called for launching an investigation into the incident as soon as possible, according to a press statement.

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8 responses to “Killing of Sheikh Ahmad Abdel Wahid condemned”

  1. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    Yes … many ‘conflicting’ reports … and more added all the time. But this is Lebanon.
    Why does a lowly cleric need to travel in an armed convoy? Does that not make an army immediately go on the defensive? And if they did indeed stop, was the army not tasked with removing weapons from people? Who fired the first shot? Why would anyone?
    It is easy to imagine – with the inflated egos that abound all over the place – that the ‘feelings’ go instantly to those ‘god-given rights’ to resist all authority .. which translate instantly to ‘you can’t tell me what to do!’. And pardon me, but logic dictates that an army with weapons aimed at you has some authority. The sensible thing would be to stop, leave the vehicles with hands in the air, and get cleared to continue, or if ordered to, turn around and go the other way.
    There is little room for ‘discussion’ at a checkpoint.

    On the other hand … having seen more ‘news’ … one wonders why more of the convoy wasn’t hit as well.

    1. Sebouh80 Avatar
      Sebouh80

      Good point.

  2. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    Yes … many ‘conflicting’ reports … and more added all the time. But this is Lebanon.
    Why does a lowly cleric need to travel in an armed convoy? Does that not make an army immediately go on the defensive? And if they did indeed stop, was the army not tasked with removing weapons from people? Who fired the first shot? Why would anyone?
    It is easy to imagine – with the inflated egos that abound all over the place – that the ‘feelings’ go instantly to those ‘god-given rights’ to resist all authority .. which translate instantly to ‘you can’t tell me what to do!’. And pardon me, but logic dictates that an army with weapons aimed at you has some authority. The sensible thing would be to stop, leave the vehicles with hands in the air, and get cleared to continue, or if ordered to, turn around and go the other way.
    There is little room for ‘discussion’ at a checkpoint.

    1. Sebouh80 Avatar
      Sebouh80

      Good point.

    2. Clinda Avatar

      He was not a “lowly cleric”. Before you speak, have some respect for a man who died innocent. He was not armed either and he did stop at the checkpoint. He tried to turn the vehicle around after discussion and to return the way he came and yet the army still opened fire. There would be no reason to shoot if he was not continuing along the same route. You speak as if what the army did was just and reasonable when in fact, it wasn’t. 

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