The Future Movement and The Planned Tripoli Demonstrations

The Future Movement (FM) has distanced itself from the anti-Assad demonstrations that will be taking place in Tripoli. In fact, the party is actively calling on Hizb-al-Tahrir, an extreme Islamist party with anarchical views, to call off the demonstrations and abide by the protest ban. Mr. Hariri even chaired a security meeting where he officially asked the army and the ISF to take “appropriate measures in dealing with them” (Which is a euphemism for authorized heavy handedness).

This is a tricky situation for the Future Movement. The leadership and the upper echelons know better than to join a demonstration organized by Hizb-el-Tahrir, but the Tripoli masses which form the base of the FM are itching to take to the streets and chant against Assad.

Moreover, the Syrian regime will be trying hard to portray what’s happening in Syria as the work of Lebanese Islamists and the Future Movement. Footage of bearded Islamists in Tripoli (an FM stronghold) burning pictures of Assad will only validate that Baathist propaganda.

The Christian parties seem to have made up their minds on “positive neutrality” towards Syria. But for the Future Movement, there is a difficult balancing act to perform.