BEIRUT: An influential Tripoli sheikh rejected Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk’s reported proposal to replace the Islamist slogan in Tripoli’s main square with a more subtle Quranic verse.
Tripoli’s Nour Square currently contains a large ornament of the world “Allah” with the slogan “Tripoli, the fortress of Muslims” under it.
Salafist Sheikh Salem al-Rafei, who is a member of the Muslim Scholars Committee, urged authorities not to remove the ornament in comments Tuesday morning to Voice of Lebanon radio station (100.3-100.5).
In comments published by the pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat newspaper earlier Tuesday, Machnouk said he had contacted Tripoli’s mufti as well as Rafei to suggest replacing the Quranic verse: “Enter in peace, safe [and secure].”
The verse describes how righteous believers will be welcomed into heaven.