Mohammad Raad

Mohammed Raad
محمد رعد
Head of Hezbollah block in Lebanese Parliament
Arabic: كتلة الوفاء للمقاومة
Personal details
Born 1 January 1955
Beirut, Lebanon
Nationality Lebanese
Political party Hezbollah
Religion Shi'a, Islam

Mohammad Raad (Arabic:محمد رعد; born 1 January 1955) is a Shia Lebanese member of parliament representing the Nabatiyeh district. He presides Hezbollah's bloc in the Lebanese parliament, which is part of the 8 March Alliance.[1]

Early life and education

Raad was born into a Shia family in Beirut in 1955. His family is originally from the village of Jbaa in western Bekaa Valley.[2] He holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy, which he received from Lebanese University.[2]

Career

Raad is one of the leading figures of Hezbollah and the only member of the party to occupy his seat in Parliament (representing Nabatiyah) since 1992. He is one of the "ideologues" of the party, a member of its executive committee[2][3] and former chair of its political council. Raad has been a key political player and has been elected by the Iranian Majlis as Lebanon's only representative on the Iranian Guardian Council. He won a seat from Nabatiyeh in the general elections held in 2000.[4] He has been president of the Hezbollah's Block loyalty to the Resistance since 2000.[5]

Following the military action of July–August 2006 conducted by Israel against the Lebanon, and with the resumption of dialogue sessions headed by Nabih Berri, Hassan Nasrallah appointed Mohammad Raad as personal representative on the negotiating table.

Raad is among potential candidates for general secretary of Hezbollah if Nasrallah will be "supreme guide" of the organization and the power allocated to the post of general secretary will be reduced.[6]

Political views

Raad recognizes that Lebanon is a country of partnerships, where dialogue must be preserved. Honesty is essential to Raad's idea of dialogue. He supports stronger ties with Iran, the implementation of shariah law in Nabatieh. Raad has raised controversy with various statements. On 11 October 2011, he referred to the American ambassador to Lebanon, Jeffrey Feltman, as an "Israeli agent" and suggested that there are "many" Israeli collaborators working with 14 March alliance. He suggested that any Lebanese who communicate with an Israeli should be put to death, and openly stated that those who are not with the resistance are traitors.

Investigation into assassination of Rafik Hariri

Hezbollah, in which Raad is a member, has repeatedly called the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL)'s investigation of the 2005 assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri an Israeli conspiracy that targets the party. Media outlets said that the STL is expected to indict Hezbollah members for the Hariri murder.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "In this photo released by the Lebanese parliament media office". Newshopper Sulekha. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Sayyed Nasrallah re-elected for another term". The Weekly Middle East Reporter. 5 December 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  3. ↑ Hamzeh, A. Nizar (1993). . "Lebanon's Hizbullah: From Islamic Revolution to Parliamentary Accommodation". Third World Quarterly 14 (2): 321–337. doi:10.1080/01436599308420327. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  4. ↑ "Murr Releases Official Results of Lebanon’s Second Round of Elections". Albawaba. 5 September 2000. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  5. ↑ Bloc de la fidélité à la Résistance
  6. ↑ "Hezbollah Again Postpones General Congress". Al Monitor. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  7. ↑ Raad calls for freezing Lebanon’s cooperation with STL. NOW Lebanon. 4 March 2011.