Arabs, Muslims, Europeans condemn Kuwait's deadly mosque attack

KUWAIT, June 26 (KUNA) -- A deadly attack on Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque downtown Kuwait city on Friday killed 25 worshippers and injured 202 others, drawing condemnations from Arab, Muslim and European countries.
Arab Parliament President Ahmad Al-Jarwan strongly condemned the "terrorist explosion" that hit a mosque in Al-Sawaber area.
"These terrorist acts, which aim at destabilizing security of the Arab world and masterminded by enemies of Arab and Islamic nation, will never succeed in undermining unity of the Kuwaiti and Arab people ...," Al-Jarwan said in a statement.
"Kuwait, by Allah's willing, will always remain safe and stable under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah," he said, and expressed condolences for the families of the victims, and wishing speedy recovery for the injured.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) strongly condemned the "terrorist attack" against Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque.
"This terrorist act which targetted worshippers during the blessed day of Friday and during the holy month of Ramadan cannot be carried out by a Muslim," OIC Secretary General Iyad Madani said in a statement.
"The terrorist group that committed this heinous act is careless to human being, a moral or faith, and is offending Islam and Muslims," he said.
He expressed full solidarity with Kuwait and its people, extending deepest condolences for His Highness the Amir, Kuwait government and the families of the victims.
Arab League Secretary General Nabil Al-Araby strongly condemned the "terrorist attack" against Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque.
Speaking to KUNA, Al-Araby expressed "condemnation in the strongest terms the suicide attack that targetted innocent worshippers in the Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque in the State of Kuwait while performing Friday prayers." Such "terrorist and criminal acts carried out against innocent civilians are crimes rejected by traditions and religion and in contrary to religious merits," he said.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) strongly condemned the "heinous terrorist" crime against the mosque in Al-Sawaber area.
Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan reaffirmed UAE's full solidarity with Kuwait and its people during "this common ordeal and the fight against terrorism and extremism." The attack against places of worship is "an escalation by extremist groups using religion to justify their barbaric acts ...," Sheikh Abdullah said in a statement, cited by the official WAM news agency.
Sheikh Abdullah extended condolences for families of the victims and wishing speedy recovery for the injured.
Iraq, meanwhile, also condemned the terrorist attack against worshippers in Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque.
"We condemn this terrorist act ... and affirm that terrorist gangs pose a threat on everybody and countries in the region and the world," Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi said in a statement, a copy of which was sent to KUNA.
Al-Abadi said that "we have repeatedly warned that none of us will be safe from them (terrorist gangs) and Iraq has been fighting these gangs and all countries should help it." He said the terrorist attack against Kuwait "underlines importance of collaboration of efforts of all regional countries to fight this deviated ideology which tarnishes image of Islam." Jordan also condemned the terrorist bombing against Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque, which killed and wounded hundreds of people.
The Jordanian government stands behind the State of Kuwait "in all circumstances specially in the fight against terrorism, which targets the security and safety of its citizens," Minister of State for Information and government spokesman Mohammad Al-Momani said in a statement.
He rejected all forms of terrorism and violence targetting Kuwait.
Egypt, for its part, strongly condemned the terrorist attack that killed and wounded several innocent people.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Bader Abdulaati, in a statement, said this deadly attack has nothing to do with Islam.
He expressed full solidarity with Kuwait and its people, extending condolences for the families of the victims and wishing speedy recovery for the wounded.
The Council of Interior Ministers condemned the "heinous terrorist explosion" against Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque.
The council, in a statement, condemned this "despicable vicious acts which, once again, shows the true ugly side of terrorism." It reaffirmed solidarity with Kuwait and said this "cowardly" attack would only unite the Kuwaitis against this menace.
Spain also condemned the attack against Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque which killed 25 people and injured 202 others.
The foreign ministry expressed solidarity with the government of Kuwait, saying it was confident the Kuwaiti authorities would swiftly capture those behind the attack to bring them to justice.
Iran strongly denounced the "criminal bombing" against the mosque in Kuwait.
"The terrorist acts ... are posing a threat to security and stability of people in the region," foreign ministry spokesperson Marziya Afgham said in a statement.
Governments in the region should join hands to confront terrorism and its financing, she said. President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, expressed his condolences to Kuwait in addition to France and Tunisia over the terror attacks.
"Let me express our condolences and solidarity to France, Kuwait and Tunisia which have been the victims of savage terrorist attacks," he said in his opening statement at a press conference after a meeting of EU leaders this afternoon.
He noted that the EU leaders today also met Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg and discussed with him the issue of global terrorism.
Qatar Foreign Ministry also condemned the attacks, saying the criminal act was in violation of all Islamic values.
It expressed in a statement fully solidarity with all measures taken by the government of Kuwait to protect its security and stability.
Russia strongly condemned the "terrorist" attack that killed innocent Muslim worshippers in a mosque during Friday prayers.
The Russian foreign ministry extended condolences for families of the victims, and noted that there were no Russian nationalities among the fatalities. (end) kt.bs