Sisi, Azhar, Catholic Church condemn Sri Lanka bombings

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry released a statement condemning the series of coordinated bombings targeting churches and hotels in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo, which killed nearly 160 people and injured hundreds others.

“Egypt expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the victims, wishing speedy recovery to the wounded, and assures that it stands by the government and the friendly people of Sri Lanka in this hardship,” the statement said.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi also denounced the heinous terrorist bombings and sent condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.

“We have to share our historic responsibility to face these inhumane acts, which are not aimed at a particular state but against humanity in general,” the president said.

In a statement posted online by presidential spokesperson Bassam Rady, President Sisi called for exerting collective international efforts to put an end to the danger of terrorism and curb its activities through a comprehensive confrontation of all its elements.

The president said that terrorism is a “bleeding wound for humanity” that has repeatedly disregarded the sanctity of life by killing people inside houses of prayer and elsewhere and intimidating everyone around the globe.

“Such terror is driven by poisonous thought and deep hatred of civilisation, progress and prosperity,” the statement added.

The head of Egypt’s Al-Azhar, the world’s oldest institute of Sunni Islamic learning, Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayeb also condemned the bombings, saying “I cannot imagine how somebody would target innocent people on the day of their religious holiday celebration. These terrorists have violated all religious principles.”

The Egyptian foreign ministry stressed that these brutal acts targeting innocent people and places of worship will not succeed in achieving their goals, and expressed trust in Sri Lanka’s ability to overcome this crisis.

A series of eight devastating bomb blasts ripped through high-end hotels and churches holding Easter services in Sri Lanka on 21 April, killing nearly 160 people, including dozens of foreigners.

Egypt’s Grand Mufti Shawki Allam has also condemned the bombings.

In a statement, Allam said that “targeting places of worship, shedding the blood of innocent and defenseless people and spreading hatred and fomenting sedition among people of the same nation are abhorrent acts that are prohibited by all religions.”

The Catholic Church in Egypt has also condemned the attacks, offering condolences to the families of the victims and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

“The Catholic Church in Egypt prays for love and peace in the face of death and terrorism,” the Church said in a statement.

Source: Ahram online