Catholic Information Center Denies Bkirki Lawsuit Against al-Watan

The head of the Catholic Information Center Father Abdo Abu Kasam denied on Thursday that the seat of the Maronite church had filed a lawsuit against a Saudi daily for mocking the patriarch.

In remarks to Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3), Abu Kasam said the church “knows how to respond in a civilized manner” to a caricature of Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi published by al-Watan newspaper.

He said a clear stance from the caricature would be made after a scheduled meeting at the center next week.

Abu Kasam said the seat of the Maronite church in Bkirki hasn't received any apology from al-Watan for publishing the caricature that criticizes al-Rahi's latest visit to Damascus.

VDL said Wednesday that lawyer Wadih Aql filed a criminal complaint with the general prosecutor’s office against the newspaper's publisher, its editor-in-chief and the caricaturist, Jihad Awrati.

Aql accused them of slandering the patriarch and inciting strife and racism, the radio station said.

The caricature replaced al-Rahi's mitre with a rocket and highlighted the common letters between the patriarch and the Syrian president's names in Arabic.

The depiction was met with anger and criticism on social media websites.