The case of the "self-proclaimed prophet" Nashaat Munzer continues to stir controversy in Lebanon, following the issuance of a lawsuit by the Dar al-Fatwa in the Lebanese Republic seeking to penalize Munzer. The "self-proclaimed prophet" appeared in a video holding a stick and drawing incomprehensible shapes on his forehead, claiming to be "sent from the heavens." Social media users have been busy with comments rejecting the presence of such a person in Lebanon, demanding his swift prosecution.
Who is Munzer?
Conflicting information surrounds Munzer's identity, with some asserting he is of Lebanese nationality while others deny this without specifying his nationality. This impostor refers to himself as "the sage Nashaat Munzer." Social media users revealed that the "self-proclaimed prophet" previously worked as a drummer in one of Lebanon's casinos, sharing an old image of him showing him among a musical group, holding a drum.
Munzer announced on Facebook that "Egyptians are prohibited from entering the group" he established on his page, claiming to receive messages from the heavens that he must convey to people like the prophets.
On Thursday evening, Grand Mufti of the Republic of Lebanon Sheikh Abdul Latif Deryan directed Sheikh Amin al-Kurdi to file a complaint with the public prosecutor's office against Nashaat Munzer, who "claims to be a messenger sent from the heavens and holds a divine message." The public prosecutor's office was asked to take the necessary legal action against him and anyone appearing in the investigation as his accomplices, based on Articles 317 and 474 of the Penal Code.
Article 317 stipulates that "any act, writing, or speech intended to incite sectarian or racial strife or to provoke conflict among the sects and different elements of the nation is punishable by imprisonment for one to three years." Additionally, Article 474 states that "whoever publicly disparages religious rituals or incites contempt for them will be punished by imprisonment from six months to three years."
Arrest Expected Within Hours
Lebanese lawyer Mohamed Ziyad Jafail predicted to "Sky News Arabia" that the "self-proclaimed prophet" would be arrested by the public prosecutor's office within the coming hours. Jafail mentioned that he had previously filed a complaint days ago against Munzer and against "Carmen Chamas," who supported, encouraged, and promoted his ideas on her pages.
He clarified that "Lebanon is a civil state that respects the freedom of belief and religions, and what the 'self-proclaimed prophet' has done is a source of strife between the Lebanese themselves and between Lebanon and the world." Lawyer Jafail noted that the provisions of the penal code in Lebanon are "sufficient and deterrent if applied."
