Sayyed Nasrallah: Al-Qard Al-Hasan Association Won’t Collapse despite US Sanctions, Value of Loans Surpassed $3.7 Billion

Al-Qard Al-Hasan Association

Hezbollah Secretary General clarified that Al-Qard Al-Hasan Association was a fruit of an individual initiative 36 years ago, adding that its central target is to grant small loans that help borrowers, regardless of their religious affiliations, manage with their life hardships (rebuilding houses, opening small businesses, covering marriage hardships).

Al-Qard Al-Hasan Association tried to open branches in various Lebanese areas to confirm it is non-sectarian, yet certain security agencies blocked it, according to Hezbollah leader.

Sayyed Nasrallah added that the US sanctions on Hezbollah and its supporters pushed them to close their accounts at the commercial banks and deposit their money at Al-Qard Al-Hasan Association, pointing out that the credibility of the association also contributed to its success.

All the shareholders retained their money they had deposited at the association before 2006, Sayyed Nasrallah said.

His eminence explained that Al-Qard Al-Hasan Association does not make any financial gain, adding that it just grant loans to the needy people from the deposits of the shareholders.

Sayyed Nasrallah added that the association is registered in the records of the Lebanese ministry of social affairs, adding that

In this regard, Sayyed Nasrallah said that Al-Qard Al-Hasan Association has granted 1,801,000 loans worth $3,775,000,000, adding that its numbers are increasing as it serves the needy and avoids the usury, which attracts both the depositors and borrowers.

Sayyed Nasrallah clarified that Al-Qard Al-Hasan Association does not fund Hezbollah, adding that, on the contrary, the Party supports it in the case of its need and backs all its activities.

Sayyed Nasrallah clarified that Al-Qard Al-Hasan Association gives loans on the basis of mortgaged gold or a mutual guarantor between the borrower and the association, adding “Thus, it cannot specialize amounts of money to fund Hezbollah”.

Sayyed Nasrallah noted that Al-Qard Al-Hasan Association’s success some mean Lebanese parties to instigate the US administration against it, pointing out that their plan concentrates on frightening the depositors so that they close their accounts, which would affect the continuity of the association.

Sayyed Nasrallah confirmed that Al-Qard Al-Hasan Association despite all the US sanctions, calling for responding to the campaign by the Americans and some mean Lebanese by depositing money at the association.

Sayyed Nasrallah called on the Lebanese parties who reject the activities with Al-Qard Al-Hasan Association to imitate the same experience in their cities and towns, highlighting the presence of similar associations in all the regions.

Captagon Ship in Italy

Hezbollah leader denied Hezbollah involvement in the captagon ship seized in Italy, conforming that the Party fires any of its members who proves to be involved in drug-related activities.

It is worth noting that the Zionist newspaper, JPost, fabricated a report which alleged that Hezbollah was behind the captagon ship seized in Italy last July, knowing that the Italian authorities confirmed that drugs were made to fund the takfiri group.

Sayyed Nasrallah confirmed that Hezbollah considers that illegal drug dealing is religiously forbidden, recalling the Fatwa which even bans any kind of involvement in drug-related activities, even on the enemy’s territories.

Fighting Corruption in Lebanon

Sayyed Nasrallah reiterated Hezbollah serious attitude towards fighting corruption in all the public institutions in Lebanon, confirming that the party does not protect any corrupt regardless of his political belonging.

Hezbollah leader stressed that the judiciary must carry out its duties in this regard because fighting corruption must follow the legal procedure, adding that open debates via the media outlets which include exchanging insults can only sabotage the country.

Reforming the judiciary system in Lebanon is one of the basic requirements of the fight against corruption, according to Sayyed Nasrallah who criticized addressing the corruption files on the basis of discretionary and selectivity.

Sayyed Nasrallah called for addressing all the corruption files simultaneously in order to unveil the corrupts and remove the political coverage provided to them, warning against surrendering to despair in this battle “which needs patience and optimism”.

Lebanese Government Formation

Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that Hezbollah has always supported the formation of a new government as fast as possible, denying what has been reported about the Party’s intention to hamper the constitutional process till the end of the US President Donald Trump’s term.

“We even asked the premier-designate Saad Hariri whether he is deliberately delaying the cabinet formation till the end of Trump’s term for fear of US sanctions; he denied that.”

Sayyed Nasrallah also dismissed the claims about Hezbollah plot to postpone the cabinet formation till the end of the Iranian-American negotiations, stressing that the two sides are not negotiating any issue.

“What the Supreme Leader Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei said was clear: Iran will not rush into the negotiation table. Let the Americans lift the sanctions first.”

“If we wait for Biden’s administration to activate the cabinet formation in Lebanon, it means that the process will be delayed for several months because Lebanon is not a priority for the new US president, and the Americans are preoccupied with their problems,” Sayyed Nasrallah said.

Hezbollah Secretary General highlighted the lack of trust in the process of the cabinet formation, noting that we cannot blame one party for the delay in this file.

It is not a matter of ministerial portions, according to Sayyed Nasrallah who pointed out that some parties have fears and demand guarantees in this regard.

Sayyed Nasrallah vowed Hezbollah will exert all the possible efforts to form the new government, calling on all the political parties in Lebanon to cooperate due to the vital role of the government in coping with the country’s crisis.

Coronavirus in Lebanon

Hezbollah Secretary General shed light on the sharp increase in the number of coronavirus infections and deaths in Lebanon, blaming the lack of commitment to the preventive measures.

Sayyed Nasrallah indicated that we cannot ask the competent authorities to go beyond its capabilities, highlighting that the health-economy controversy which has been recently heated.

Sayyed Nasrallah held all the residents in Lebanon responsible and accountable for any case of evading the anti-coronavirus measures, stressing that the awaited vaccine will not automatically end the pandemic.

Source: Al-Manar English Website