Sayyed Fadlallah slams attempts to pardon "Israeli" collaborators

Source: Daily Star, 28-03-2009

BEIRUT: Senior Shiaa cleric Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah blasted on Friday attempts by some political quarters to pardon criminals who collaborated with the "Israelis" during the occupation of south Lebanon.

Speaking in his Friday sermon at the Imam Hassanayn Mosque, Fadlallah said it is shameful that some deputies occasionally try to free criminals, collaborators and outlaws. The scholar was alluding to a proposal by some lawmakers to introduce an amnesty law that would pardon some of the Lebanese who were convicted of crimes. These MPs argue that Taif Accord has pardoned all the crimes that were committed before 1991.

Sayyed Fadlallah said that amnesty in Lebanon has become part of the political game based on sectarian and confessional considerations. He accused some politicians of raising sensitive issues during the elections.

"The problem in Lebanon is that collaboration has reached the levels of political leaders," Fadlallah said. He also commented on "Israeli" efforts to change the demographic composition of Occupied 'Jerusalem' (al-Quds), criticizing the silence of the international community.