The twin suicide bombing that killed dozens of people at the Bab al-Sharqi commercial area in central Baghdad on Thursday received wide Arab and international condemnation.
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait stressed issues statements through their foreign ministries expressing their rejection of all forms of terrorism, stressing their solidarity with Iraq in its fight against terrorism and all that threatens its security or stability.
Bahrain called “for the need to join hands to confront these heinous terrorist acts that target the lives of innocent civilians and destabilize the country’s security.”
The UAE said that such attacks are inconsistent with religious and humanitarian values and principles, while Kuwait stressed that that bombings “constitute a violation of the Islamic Sharia and all values and norms.”
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry also condemned the attack and expressed its “sincere condolences to the brotherly Iraqi government and victims of this despicable terrorist act.”
It wished the injured a speedy recovery, reiterating its solidarity with Baghdad and its attempts to maintain security and stability and face all forms of terrorism and extremism.
Secretaries-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Arab League Nayef Falah Mubarak al-Hajraf and Ahmed Aboul Gheit condemned the bombing and renewed their firm stance against terrorism and extremism and their rejection of all its forms, motives and justifications.
Hajraf stressed the need to work on drying up the sources of terrorist acts.
Aboul Gheit, for his part, said the timing of the disgraceful attack aims to undermine the Iraqi state’s prestige and the government’s efforts to restore the country’s security and national cohesion, consolidate its sovereignty and achieve the aspired economic reform.
The AL issued a statement confirming its continuous support for the Iraqi government and all the measures it takes to bolster security and stability.
It further expressed solidarity with Baghdad in all that would contribute to overcoming current challenges, including the elimination of terrorist hotbeds that threaten the security of Iraq and the entire region.
Also, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned from its headquarters in the Jeddah the “criminal and terrorist act.”
Secretary-General Dr. Youssef al-Othaimeen renewed the OIC’s “firm position that denounces terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”
Pope Francis, who hopes to visit Iraq in March, deplored the bombings as a “senseless act of brutality.”
“His Holiness Pope Francis was deeply saddened to learn of the bomb attacks on Tayaran Square in Baghdad this morning,” the Vatican said in a statement sent to Iraqi President Barham Salih.
“In deploring this senseless act of brutality, he prays for the deceased victims and their families, for the injured and the emergency personnel in attendance.”
