Charbel Hails Arrest of al-Mawlawi, Slams Raid on Safadi’s Welfare Association

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel revealed on Tuesday that a disciplinary probe was launched to reveal the facts that pushed the General Security Department to detain Shadi al-Mawlawi at the entrance of an office that belongs to Finance Minister Mohammed al-Safadi.

On Saturday, the General Security Department lured al-Mawlawi to an office at Safadi’s welfare association in Tripoli under a healthcare pretext.

Al-Mawlawi was later detained on charges of belonging to a terrorist organization.

“A disciplinary probe was launched concerning the incident,” Charbel told al-Joumhouria newspaper.

On Monday, Charbel said in a statement that the officer in charge was called for investigation.

“The officer who led the operation deserves to take credit for detaining a very important suspect and delivering him to the Lebanese judiciary, but he must also be blamed for the way the operation was carried out,” Charbel told al-Joumhouria.

He said that the General Security could have “carried out the operation without raiding an office that belongs to a minister.”

The minister stressed in comments to al-Liwaa newspaper that the cabinet is tackling the situation in Tripoli in a “calm way,” to prevent any escalation in the area.

“We prefer a peaceful and a political solution to end the protests,” he added.

He blamed the regional developments for the security situation, noting that the political rivals should practice politics in a “democratic way.”

Battles erupted on Saturday between residents of the rival neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen after security forces arrested al-Mawlawi.

Mawlawi's supporters say he was targeted because of his help for Syrian refugees fleeing to Lebanon.

The fighting has forced all businesses and shops in and around the area where the clashes are taking places to stay closed. Many residents fled at the weekend and those who stayed behind were hiding in their homes.