Gulf leaders and OIC chief deplore heinous assault

JEDDAH: Gulf leaders strongly condemned Friday’s terrorist bombings in Paris.
UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan denounced the attacks as “heinous crimes” and said the UAE would “spare no effort... to fight terrorism in all its forms,” WAM reported.
The Qatari foreign ministry condemned the “armed attacks and bombings” in a statement cited by official agency QNA, saying they “contradict all moral and humanitarian principles and values.”
There were also condemnations from Bahrain and Kuwait, and from Abdullatif Al-Zayani, secretary-general of the GCC which also includes Oman.
Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Sabah sent a cable of condolence to President Hollande, condemning “these criminal acts of terrorism which run counter to all teachings of holy faith and humanitarian values.”
Iyad Madani, secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), deplored the terror attack in the strictest terms.
Madani also reaffirmed the OIC’s unwavering solidarity and support to France.
He expressed his firm rejection of any terrorist act that violates the right to life and tries to undermine universal human values such as freedom and equality that France has consistently promoted.
He reiterated the OIC’s principled and consistent position in condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Madani also called upon all governments across the world, international organizations and civil society institutions in all countries to close ranks and engage in a concerted joint action to combat the scourge of terrorism.
He conveyed his sincere condolences to the families of the victims as well as to the government and the people of France and wished for speedy recovery of the wounded.
The head of Sunni Islam’s leading seat of learning, Cairo’s Al-Azhar, condemned “hateful” attacks in Paris.
“We denounce this hateful incident,” Ahmed Al-Tayyeb told a conference in comments broadcast by Egyptian state television.
“The time has come for the world to unite to confront this monster.”
Iraqi Premier Haider Al-Abadi condemned the attacks, saying they showed the need for action against terrorists worldwide.
“We condemn and deplore the terrorist attacks in Paris, which emphasize that fighting terrorism calls for international efforts to eliminate it in all countries,” Abadi said in a statement.