Zogheib: Lebanese kidnapped in Syria non-political

Sheikh Abbas Zogheib, tasked by the Higher Islamic Shiite Council to follow up on the issue of the 11 Lebanese pilgrims kidnapped in Syria, Monday urged any political figures to intervene to help secure the release of the abductees. “We ask and wish for any Lebanese political party or figure that sees itself capable of contributing to the resolution of this humanitarian case to intervene because the national duty makes it imperative to do so,” Zogheib said in a statement. He described the case as “a purely national and humanitarian case.” The Lebanese pilgrims were returning from a Shiite religious pilgrimage in Iran on May 22 when they were snatched near the northern Syrian province of Aleppo. Following conflicting reports over the fate of the pilgrims over the weekend, their relatives said they had been informed that their loved ones were OK and still held by Syrian rebels. In his statement Monday, Zogheib also said that “figures who should intervene know who they are and there is no need to mention them,” adding that this case has nothing to do with the March 8 or the March 14 coalition. “I urge [everyone] to work on different levels for the release of those who were kidnapped and bring them home safely to their relatives before the Eid al-Fitr so they can celebrate with their families,” he said. President Michel Sleiman last week tasked the head of General Security Abbas Ibrahim with following up on the issue and continuing talks with Turkey, which has said it is working to help release the Lebanese men. From DailyStar