AMMAN — Mayor of
Amman Yousef Al-Shawarbeh on Saturday apologized for Jordanians and the
Christian community over a statement that had been issued by the Greater
Amman Municipality that was considered offensive to Christianity.
اضافة اعلان
The municipality had removed a sign erected by a registered
Christian society with verses from the Bible. When the society protested,
supported by Jordanians from across the board that took to social media, GAM
issued a statement saying it would not allow signs that “violate the public
manners prevailing in society.”
At a meeting with Christian leaders, including Archbishop
Christóforos Attallah, at the Greek Orthodox Church offices in Amman, Shawarbeh
acknowledged that the statement was a “big mistake.”
Angry citizens were protesting outside, with some signs
reading “an apology is not enough.”
The Council of Churches, which was represented at the
meeting Saturday, issued a saying that the mayor “deeply regretted” the
behavior of GAM, stressing respect for all religions.
Bishop of the Latin Patriarchate William Hanna Shomali, who
attended the meeting told the Jordan News that it was “successful and
fruitful.”
“The apologies provided by the mayor, who represents 4
million people living in Amman, had an immense effect of calming down the anger
of many people and the rage that spread over the social media.”
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