Asiri Urges Lebanese not to Use Cartoon to Sabotage Ties with Arabs

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Saudi Ambassador Ali Awadh Asiri urged the Lebanese on Saturday not to use a caricature deemed insulting for Lebanon to sabotage the country’s ties with Arab states.

“The Lebanese should keep the caricature within its journalistic frame as clarified by Asharq al-Awsat newspaper so that it is not used by some sides that are trying to damage Lebanon’s relations with its Arab brethren,” Asiri said in a statement.

A group of activists briefly raided the office of the Saudi-owned newspaper in Beirut, protesting the cartoon that was published in its Friday edition.

The cartoon depicted the Lebanese state as an April's fool joke, printing the Lebanese flag with the words "April's Fool" over it.

The insulting cartoon provoked a storm over social media, with many, including politicians, demanding an apology.

Asiri said the reaction was exaggerated.

He described Lebanon’s ties with Saudi Arabia as “deep,” saying “the Kingdom’s respect for the Lebanese state, its institutions and its people don’t need any proof.”

The diplomat reiterated his call for the Lebanese people’s unity, national dialogue and the consolidation of state institutions.

The Lebanese state would regain its authority through the swift election of a president, he said, adding Riyadh is keen on Lebanon’s independence and sovereignty.

Comments 3
Thumb ado.australia 02 April 2016, 18:39

tooz ! only shia are offended when the republic of Lebanon is insulted? It's a shame that not all Lebanese are offended when our nation becomes a joke!

Thumb enterprise 03 April 2016, 06:32

alexi:

But Jesus was a man of peace and never was part of any axis that included Iran and Syria in addition to Venezuela;)!

Default-user-icon +oua nabka+ (Guest) 03 April 2016, 11:21

god bless democracy
freedom of speech is paramount so hope everyone accepts caricatures and criticism
even for kings ,emirs ,sheiks, most of all all our lebanese politicians from the top of the pyramid to the bottom