Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Araby has apologized for his last week remarks about Christianity, which have been understood as offensive by a number of clerics.
In a statement issued by his office on Wednesday, al-Araby said he did not mean to tackle doctrinal issues, but rather sought to speak about historic incidents and conflicts that occurred in Europe in medieval times, which were not present in the Arab region, neither among Christians, nor among Muslims.
Al-Araby has highlighted his full respect for Christianity and Christians, who have always been part of the Arab society.
Last week, al-Araby said in a press conference following the Arab Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, commenting about the conflicts betwenn the Sunnis and the Shia, “We are not Catholics and Protestants who have different books.”
Several church leaders have denounced those remarks, saying they suggest different branches of Christianity are based on different sacred texts.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
