The Movement of Independent Nasserists
- Movement of Independent Nasserists (or al-Murabitoun), is a Nasserist political party in Lebanon. The Egyptian president Jamal Abdel Nasser's ideas for a united Arabic nation found enthusiasm in Lebanon, the 'Mourabitoun' is a party supporting the slogans and ideas of Abdel Nasser. It was formed in 1958, by Ibrahim Kulaylat.
At the height of the 1958 conflict, its militia, al-Murabitun, clashed with the forces of pro-Western president Camille Chamoun. The party was a member of the Front for Progressive Parties and National Forces. In the 1970s, it re-emerged as a major political faction within the Sunni Muslim community and was a major political and military force during the Lebanese Civil War which began in 1975. Al-Murabitoun was part of the Lebanese National Movement. As of 1977 it was the largest organization within the LNM, both in terms of popular support and military capacity.
During the first Syrian intervention in 1976 the movement initially resented the Syrian presence.
Al-Murabitoun fought with LNM against the Israelis during the invasion of 1982 and against the Lebanese Army in the Chouf Mountains in 1983.
By the mid-1980s the political influence of al-Murabitoun had waned significantly. As of early 1985, during the 'war of the camps' al-Murabitoun was the most prominent Lebanese ally to Yassir Arafat and the PLO. In April that year, when the Syrian army (with which they had deep disagreements) entered west Beirut, they had clashes with Amal Movement forces, and then the Progressive Socialist Party joined Amal and crushed the al-Murabitoun militia. Ibrahim Kulaylat was forced into exile. The party almostly vanished from the Lebanese political scene.
In 2001 the Mourabitoun under the leadership of Ibrahim Kulaylat started to rebuild its operation. In 2006 it re-opened offices in Beirut, the North (Tripoli and Akkar), the Bekaa and the South.
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