The Religious Authority, H.E. Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah issued the following communiqué:

Protecting civil peace and preventing any incident from affecting or undermining it is the responsibility of all Lebanese parties, just as it is the responsibility of the official security agencies.

Any violation of the peace is considered a big crime that those who committed it should be held accountable for and punished, regardless of whom they belong to or associated with.

On this basis, we view the latest abduction incident that targeted Ziad Qabalan and Ziad Ghandour, a dangerous crime, that all parties should unveil its circumstances, punish those who committed it, release the kidnapped and move to establish a dynamism that would prevent the recurrence of such crimes that not only threaten certain honourable families in the country, by the security of the entire homeland as well.

As we appreciate the stands of all parties who hastened to contain any consequences that could result from the abduction, we call on everybody to bear his national and political responsibility, as well as the religious one, that deem all citizens responsible for guarding the security of the country and point out to anybody who tries to violate the security of the citizens, regardless of his motives.

Political difference could be legitimate, and even healthy, but undermining the security of the people and the state by abducting and hurting citizens, is a dangerous development that needs a swift political and security reaction to contain it. Everyone should know that abduction is one of the biggest prohibited (haram) deeds, as well as one of the greatest crimes, especially as it might lead to a new political stage where the entire country will be abducted, and its foundations will collapse.

We call on all parties to make every effort to release the two youths. We also call on the government to uphold its responsibility in chasing the criminals and preventing those who are trying to violate the country's security from continuing their crimes against Lebanon and the Lebanese.