BEIRUT: Jaafarite Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Kabalan said Lebanon will not return to the Maronite political doctrine or allow a Sunni or a Shiite ideology to dominate the country’s political system.

During a ceremony at the headquarters of the Supreme Shiite council, he said: “Lebanon is no longer weak and will not return to the Maronite political doctrine and we will not accept that Lebanon be under the Sunni political philosophy nor Shiite ideology.”

Shrugging off accusations that the Shiites were obstructing the creation of a Lebanese state, Kabalan said the Shiite community had made many sacrifices to help build a Lebanese state.

“The Shiite sect has not made any political, economic or social gains and the Shiite community continues to compromise to preserve Lebanon as a model of coexistence, forgiveness and love,” Kabalan said.

He emphasized the need to build a strong country capable of achieving justice and equality among its citizens.