Muslim Scholars, Countries Condemn London Bombings

Additional Reporting By Masoud Sabri, Sobhy Mujahid

CAIRO, July 7, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – The deadly attacks that rocked London earlier Thursday, July 7, drew condemnation from scholars, officials and even individuals from across the Muslim world.

"We were dumbfounded by the grave news of the London bombings which killed tens and wounded hundreds of innocent people who committed no crime," prominent scholar Yusuf Al-Qaradawi told IslamOnline.net.

At least 37 people were killed and hundreds others wounded when four blasts ripped through London during rush hour on Thursday.

Qaradawi stressed that these "black actions" run counter to the teachings of Islam which forbids the killing of civilians.

"Even at the time of war when state armies battle face to face, it is not permissible to kill women, children, elders, priests, farmers and merchants; people we nowadays call civilians."

The renowned scholar offered his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and London Mayor Ken Livingstone, whom Qaradawi praised as "a man of justice who always defends Arab and Muslim causes.

Criminals

Al-Azhar Grand Imam Sheikh Mohammad Sayyed Tantawi also denounced the bombings.

"Those responsible for London attacks are criminals who do not represent Islam or even truly understand (its message)," he told IOL.

Tantawi, who heads the highest seat of learning in the Sunni world, denounced the killing of civilians, including women and children, "without differentiating between combatants and non-combatants."

On the possibility that the attacks were an attempt to press British Prime Minister Tony Blair to withdraw his troops from occupied Iraq, Tantawi said: "This is illogical and cannot be the motive for killing innocent civilians."

Leading Lebanese Shiite scholar Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah voiced outrage, reported Reuters.

"These crimes are not accepted by any religion. It is a barbarism wholly rejected by Islam," he said.

Barbarism

The attacks drew rebuke from senior officials in several Muslim countries as well as two leading resistance groups.

In a message to Blair, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad condemned "these detested acts".

President Emile Lahoud said his country "shares with the British their pain".

Saudi Social Affairs Minister Abdulmohsen Al-Akkas said his country, battling a two-year wave of attacks by Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network, knew what London was suffering.

"We understand. Since May 2003 we have been experiencing the horrors of terrorist acts," said Akkas, who was visiting London.

"The use of violence to achieve aims is condemned," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said.

Egypt's Foreign Trade and Industry Minister Rachid Mohamed Rachid said: "It is important to be brave in facing up to the scourge of terrorism."

Morocco said the "heinous attacks" underlined the need for united international action against those who perpetrated them.

The Palestinian and Lebanese resistance groups Hamas and Hezbollah joined the condemnation chorus.

"Targeting civilians in their transport means and lives is denounced and rejected," Moussa Abu Marzouk, deputy chief of Hamas's political bureau, told Reuters in Damascus.

A Hezbollah statement on the blasts denounced attacks on civilians, citing humanitarian, moral and religious grounds.

Popular Condemnation

Muslims interviewed by Reuters in several countries also condemned the London explosions.

"I really hope this is not the doing of an Arab or a Muslim because our values are 100 percent against this devilish crime," said Syrian businessman Majed Ali.

"If my own brother had done this, I would disown him," he said.

"Those responsible for this have no feelings or humanity," said Hassan Bannona, a 47-year-old Saudi aviation worker.

"We feel for the victims as we have also been attacked in this way."

Yemeni doorman Aref al-Haymi, 28, said the bombings showed criminals were everywhere.

"Everyone must cooperate to end this terrorism instead of accusing only Muslims and Arabs."

Blair said earlier that the perpetrators of the London attacks acted "in the name of Islam".

He stressed, however, that "the vast and overwhelming majority of Muslims here and abroad are decent and law abiding people who abhor terrorism every bit as much as we do."

The Muslim minority in Britain vehemently denounced the blasts and offered all possible assistance in helping the emergency services.