Beirut: The Secretariat of the Maronite Patriarchate issued a statement announcing that the Grand Mufti of the Lebanese Republic, Abdellatif Derian, contacted the Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, to check on his well-being and strongly condemn the offense directed at him.

According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Mufti Derian affirmed his full solidarity with Patriarch al-Rahi, stressing that such offenses do not only target an individual or a specific authority, but also undermine the very essence of national dignity and harm Lebanon's image and values. He also reiterated his firm support, stressing that Dar al-Fatwa, with all its religious bodies and institutions, stands united in backing the Patriarch.

The Secretariat added that this stance underscores that any attack on spiritual leaders is an attack on national unity, emphasizing that Lebanon, in its diversity, remains stronger than any attempts to undermine its symbols or incite division among its people.