BEIRUT: A Future bloc MP said Monday that Mufti of the Republic Mohammad Rashid Qabbani was “misrepresenting himself” as a mufti after he decided not to renew the term for the mufti of Akkar.

“Since his violations have started to emerge, we no longer consider Qabbani a mufti of the republic but he is misrepresenting himself,” Akkar MP Mouin Merehbi told Akhbar al-Yawm News Agency.

While arguing that Mufti of Akkar Sheikh Osama Rifai was one of the most prominent figures of the district, given his qualifications, he said that Qabbani’s decision was “unjust and invalid” and reflected a decision by “the party of arms,” in reference to Hezbollah.

Separately, Merehbi attended a meeting at the home of Rifai in Bibnin, Akkar in expression of solidarity. Also attending were Akkar MPs Khaled Daher and Khaled Zahraman.

Daher said that Rifai had paid the price of his “honoring positions” against a takeover of Lebanon “by the party of arms,” in reference to Hezbollah.