Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned the terror attack in the French coastal city of Nice on Thursday, killing a woman and two men.

In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said: The Kingdom expresses its strong condemnation of the terrorist attack that took place near Notre Dame Church in Nice, France.

"The Kingdom reiterates its firm and categorical rejection of such extremist actions that are incompatible with all religions and human beliefs, and stresses the importance of rejecting practices that generate hatred, violence, and extremism", the statement added.

The Council of Senior Scholars, Saudi Arabia’s top religious body, also strongly denounced the terrorist in Nice, France, which resulted in multiple deaths and injuries.

In a statement on Thursday carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the council's general secretariat affirmed that terrorism must be condemned regardless of its source and justifications. “It is the duty of the wise men to advocate for what upholds the spirit of tolerance and constructive cooperation in the world, which is based on the concepts of righteousness, benevolence, goodness and human dignity, and to reject practices that lead to hatred, violence, and extremism.”

The scholars reiterated that Islam, with its most sublime teachings, reaffirms the protection of civilians in all senses of the word, and that it values highly the sanctity of human blood, citing the words of Almighty God in the Holy Qur’an: “Whoever kills a person — unless it is for murder or corruption on earth — it is as if he killed the whole of mankind; and whoever saves it, it is as if he saved the whole of mankind.”

The scholars reiterated that Islam, with its most sublime teachings, reaffirms the protection of civilians in all senses of the word, and that it values highly the sanctity of human blood, citing the words of Almighty God in the Holy Qur’an: “Whoever kills a person — unless it is for murder or corruption on earth—it is as if he killed the whole of mankind; and whoever saves it, it is as if he saved the whole of mankind.”

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation also issues statements strongly denouncing terrorism.

In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation emphasized that the UAE expressed its strong condemnation of these criminal acts and its permanent rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at destabilizing security in contravention of religious and humanitarian values and principles.

The ministry extended its heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of this heinous crime. It also wished a quick recovery to all the injured.

Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended deep condolences and sympathy to the families and relatives of the victims as well as to the government and people of France, wishing the injured in the attack a speedy recovery.

The ministry affirmed Bahrain’s solidarity with France and reiterated the kingdom’s steadfast stance rejecting all forms of violence, extremism, and terrorism, irrespective of the motives or justifications. It stressed that such acts are incompatible with all human values and principles.

In a statement, the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry outlined the country's principled and firm stance against all forms of terrorism, extremism, and violence, which are rejected by all divine religions and human values and criminalized by international laws and norms.

GCC Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf reiterated the firm position of the GCC toward terror and extremism and his organization’s rejection of all kinds, forms, sources, and justifications of terrorism, calling for uprooting it and drying up the sources of its support and finance.

He extended sincere condolence and sympathy to the relatives of the victims and to the friendly people of France.

The OIC, in a statement, stated its firm position rejecting the phenomenon of violence, extremism, and terrorism in all its kinds, forms, sources, and justifications, calling for avoiding practices that lead to hatred and violence.

The OIC extended sincere condolence to the relatives of the victims and to the government and people of France, wishing the injured speedy recovery.

The Muslim Council of Elders based in the UAE has also denounced the killings.

The recent upsurge in terror and hate attacks requires serious action by countering extremism and criminalizing hate speech which may fuel further attacks and other acts of hate, the UAE’s religious council said.

The UAE's religious council also said that religions are not connected to such heinous acts which are only representative of their perpetrators and not their faiths.

It expressed its utmost condolences to the families of the victims and the people of France as well as all victims of violence and terror around the world.