Lebanese mufti refuses to accept civil marriage

Lebanon’s Mufti Mohammed Rashid Qabbani has disapproved the idea of implementing civil marriage in Lebanon, warning the government against issuing any legislation to allow such ceremonies. Qabbani said that the Lebanese officials who pass legislation to permit civil marriage ceremonies are "apostates." The fatwa came amid differences between the Lebanese President Michel Sleiman and his Prime Minister Najib Mikati over the issue. The Lebanese mufti stressed that he would confront laws targeting religious institutions and called on Muslims and fellow Islamic scholars to undermine such attempts. The government is struggling to agree on passing laws related to civil marriage. President Sleiman said on his Twitter account that the government should work to find the suitable laws for the civil marriage, adding that elements refusing civil marriage would not prevent him from "putting the country on the right track." The Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati responded that the priority during the current phase should not be to deal with controversial issues, stressing the need for achieving consensus among the Lebanese community to implement such ideas.