Muslim world condemns suicide attacks in Saudi Arabia

The Muslim world on Tuesday condemned terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia, which were carried out as people were preparing for Eid al-Fitr celebrations to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Four security officers were killed and five others wounded in Monday's attacks that targeted U.S. diplomats, Shi'ite Muslim worshipers and a security headquarters at a mosque in the holy city of Medina.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack or for two other suicide bombings the same day, outside a Shiite mosque in the eastern city of Qatif and near the U.S. consulate in Jeddah in the west of the kingdom.

Pakistan Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, on Tuesday strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia.

"The government and people of Pakistan are deeply shocked and saddened over the terrorist attacks in holy land and share the pain and grief of their Saudi brethren," Nawaz Sharif said.

The Saudi Interior Ministry said early Tuesday that the suicide bomber Abdullah Waqar Khan was a Pakistani national.

The ministry said on its official Twitter account that the bomber had been residing in Jeddah with his wife and her parents for 12 years and had been working as chauffeur.

Saudi officials also released the photograph of the bomber on his identity card.

The Pakistani prime minister said the international community in general and the Muslims in particular need to forge unity at this critical moment to foil the nefarious designs of enemies of humanity and the Islamic nations.

"We need to renew collective efforts to fight the menace of terrorism," Nawaz Sharif said and reiterated Pakistan's condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. He said Pakistan stands firm against every act of terrorism.

Also on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif condemned urged collective response of Muslim world to the attacks on Prophet Mohammed's Mosque in Saudi Arabia, semi-official Fars news agency reported.

"There are no more red lines left for terrorists to cross; Sunnis, Shiites will both remain victims unless we stand united as one," Zarif was quoted as saying.

"The world countries should not give up fighting terrorism until the defeat of the ideology behind the creation of the terrorist groups," Zarif also twitted on Monday.

The world countries should not quit their anti-terrorism fight until those behind the terrorist attacks in Turkey, Bangladesh and Iraq are completely defeated, he said.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) on Tuesday condemned, in the strongest terms, Monday's suicide terror bombings that struck Saudi Arabia.

The ISESCO, with its headquarters in Rabat, Morocco, said in a statement that these malicious attacks, targeting peaceful worshipers at these penultimate days of the wholly Muslim month of Ramadan, are mere departure from Islamic precepts.

The statement called the perpetrators "deviant persons and mischief-makers who have no connection whatsoever to Islam."

The ISESCO affirmed its supportive stance with Saudi Arabia in all measures taken to combat and eliminate such criminal acts of terror.

Sudan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that "This terrorist act does not target the kingdom alone, but also target the Islamic nation in its faith and religion."

The statement said resorting to explosive belts, bombings and terrorizing the peaceful people in the Houses of Allah (mosques) and during the holy month of Ramadan, and at a holy site such as the Mosque of the Prophet Mohamed in the city of Medina, was a cowardly act which contradicts the teachings of Islam.

"Such act must be condemned and the people behind it should be punished," the ministry said.

The statement said Sudan believes the Saudi security authorities are capable of aborting the acts of terrorists and ensuring security, peace and stability for the Saudi citizens and foreign residents.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry said in a statement that "the attacks were aimed at igniting sectarian strife," calling on the regional states to work together to "end this series of bloody and criminal acts of terror."

"The evil powers and those standing behind them will never be able to defeat our nations, who confront this monstrous terror that knows no religion or limits with courage and unity," said the statement. 
Source:XINHUA