Saudi Daily Apologizes over al-Rahi Caricature
The Saudi al-Watan daily apologized on Friday for a caricature it published of Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi in light of his visit to Syria on February 9 and 10.
It said that it did not mean to insult a religious figure, but it only expressed an opinion over his trip to Syria.
The daily later published an apologetic caricature of Lebanon, portraying it as a center of religious diversity between Muslims and Christians.
Al-Rahi's caricature had replaced his mitre with a rocket and highlighted the common letters between the patriarch and Syrian President Bashar Assad's names in Arabic.
Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri had condemned on Friday the caricature, saying that the kingdom respects the patriarch and values his efforts to fortify Lebanese national unity.
Al-Rahi had visited Syria to attend the enthronement of Greek Orthodox leader Youhanna X Yazigi at the Church of the Holy Cross in Qassaa.
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