BEIRUT: Lebanese leaders condemned in the strongest of terms Wednesday an assault by suspected jihadis on the Paris offices of a weekly satirical newspaper which killed at least 12 people, describing it as a terrorist act that did not reflect the teachings of Islam.
Prime Minister Tammam Salam slammed the “unacceptable and unjustifiable terrorist act.”
In a fax issued to French President Francois Hollande Wednesday, Salam expressed his “sympathy with the families of the victims during this painful circumstance.”
Hooded gunmen stormed the offices of Charlie Hebdo (Charlie Weekly), in Paris, killing 12 people and wounding 20 others.
The magazine is well known for courting controversy with satirical attacks on political and religious leaders and has published cartoons ridiculing the Prophet Mohammad.
Ten members of Charlie Hebdo staff died in the attack.
French authorities said the attack, the most deadly Paris has witnessed for decades, was carried out by three men.
The men were heard shouting in French: “We have killed Charlie Hebdo. We have avenged the Prophet Mohammad.”
Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri said in a statement that the perpetrators actually targeted the education and values of Islam.
“If what was attributed to eyewitnesses about the identity of the perpetrators is true, then those who use the name of the Holy Prophet as a means to ask for revenge and commit the most heinous acts, are a group of misguided people who do not only aim to harm Islamic-French relations, but also target Islam as a religion, values, education and permanent calls for moderation, dialogue and integration between religions,” Hariri said.
“In all cases, the attack on the French capital is a clumsy stab that harms Islam and hundreds of thousands of Muslims who have been living in France for decades, and benefitting from social, political and human rights,” Hariri said.
According to the Future Movement leader the terrorist crime was condemned by all Arabs and Muslims, who were standing beside France in the war against terror.
Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry also denounced the act and expressed its “full sympathy and solidarity with France’s government and its people in their war against terrorism.”
In a statement released Wednesday, the ministry noted that Lebanon has repeatedly warned against terrorism that knows no religion and no border. “Europe specifically is not immune it,” the statement read.
The ministry reiterated its call on the international community to work in accordance with international law in order to uproot terrorism.
Kataeb Party leader Amine Gemayel condemned the attack as “a terrorist act par excellence which targeted democracy and freedoms.”
The former president urged the international community to put an end to such acts. Gemayel offered his condolences to Hollande, the families of the victims and the French press.
No comments:
Post a Comment