DEARBORN – Speaking at the Bint Jebail Cultural Center here Tuesday Lebanon MP Ali Bazzi said the sectarian divides spreading into different Arab countries are a major threat to peace and stability in their entire region.  Currently there are major conflicts emerging in the Arab World that have resulted from tensions between residents.  

Bazzi speaks to community leaders at Bint Jebail Cultural Center.

Bazzi spoke about the situation in Beirut that emerged recently after 12 Lebanese pilgrims were kidnapped in Syria while returning from Iran via Turkey. People in Beirut began protesting out of anger for the victims, demanding their release. The protests were raucous and sparked international attention. No one was harmed by the protests, instead tires were burned and streets were blocked.

Bazzi says it’s the responsibility of Lebanon’s government to get those who were kidnapped released. He says Lebanon’s various factions must come together in peaceful dialogue and put their secterian differences aside, and work in the best interests of their country at this sensitive juncture.

Bazzi pointed to the  Hizbullah Leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s address to the protesters to cease violence and remain calm. According to Bazzi, Nasrallah said the situation must be approached cautiously in order to prevent negative backlash. Bazzi also says some people in the north of Lebanon have  a different agenda and are smuggling weapons into Syria to arm the rebels who are against the regime of Syria’s President Bashar Al-Assad. The smuggling is directly against the declared position of neutrality called for by Lebanon’s Mikati government in dealing with the sensitive and divisive Syrian crisis. He added that what’s happening in Lebanon is connected to the historic Arab uprisings.

Bazzi noted that a Salafist activist was arrested in northern Lebanon, and then later released after pressure from Gulf nations who threatened to kick out all Lebanese people if he wasn’t set free. On Friday May 25, Bazzi is expected to speak at the Islamic Center of America on the commemoration of the liberation of South Lebanon from Israel 12 years ago. Bazzi encouraged Arab Americans not to let the turmoil in the Middle East separate them, noting that unity among each other is vital.