Lebanese politician criticises religious groups

Leader of Lebanon's  Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), Walid Jumblatt, has argued that religious movements would never achieve progress as long as they continue to reject plurality in both governance and society. In his weekly column for al-Anbaa newspaper, the Druze politician said that the recent ouster of the Muslim Brotherhood regime in Egypt had proved the dictatorial nature of such governments. “Religious movements, due to their structure and beliefs, face great difficulties achieving progress and development particularly given that they are inspired by divine laws and on the conviction that they represent God on earth. "With the fast-paced events and political developments in Egypt, some of which have taken a dramatic turn due to bloodshed and the use of violence as means of expression, it is now necessary to reintroduce some controversial lines of thinking," Jumblatt added. Jumblatt said that the war to separate religion from the state was also fought in the West, adding that only are the "bloody" French Revolution did Europe move toward modernity, progress, and civilisation. The PSP leader said it was important to preserve the achievements of the "second Egyptian revolution" which rejected singular governance, warning Egyptians to be aware of the Muslim Brotherhood. He also urged Egypt's armed forces to show restraint in dealing with the demonstrators.