ATLANTA — The ex-husband of U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene publicly apologized Friday to three Muslim women who were confronted while praying in a shopping center parking lot.

Perry Greene, seen in a widely shared video of the March 30 encounter outside Avalon in Alpharetta, issued the apology during a press conference hosted by CAIR Georgia (Council on American-Islamic Relations) and attorney Ali Awad, who represents the women.

The event took place at Masjid Jafar, a mosque located near where the incident occurred. Greene was invited by community leaders to meet the women, hear their perspective, and learn more about the Islamic faith.

“I came today just to meet with the young ladies… I humbly apologize to them because nobody should be treated that way,” Greene said. “Hopefully they’ll find it in their hearts to forgive me.”

The three women, who did not speak during the press conference, were praying in a quiet corner of the parking lot when Greene approached them. Video of the encounter showed him yelling at them, making comments about their religion and continuing to follow them after they tried to walk away.

Azka Mahmood, executive director of CAIR Georgia, called the apology a step toward restorative justice.

“We are not looking for revenge. We are pursuing restorative justice,” she said. “We feel this meeting today has been the first step toward healing the deep wound the Georgia community has suffered.”

Attorney Ali Awad said the women are not seeking compensation but are discussing the possibility of Greene making a donation to a nonprofit focused on combating Islamophobia and promoting education.

“Our goal here is education,” Awad said. “When someone comes to you and asks for forgiveness, we listen.”

According to CAIR Georgia, the state has seen a 250% increase in anti-Muslim incidents since the start of the conflict in Gaza. The organization said the goal of the event was to foster peace, not retaliation.