Judge Bassam Mawlawi, the caretaker minister of the interior and municipalities, released the following statement on Friday:

The ministry has not taken any action on any draft decree of this kind and refuses to move through with such a project, according to the minister of interior, who confirms that he is not at all involved with anything that was suggested about a new naturalization decree.

Minister Mawlawi has sent a letter to “Liberation” newspaper protesting against the content of the article, which mentions the involvement of the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, asking for an apology and a news correction.

Minister Mawlawi has also sent a letter to the French ambassador in Beirut to take note of this.”