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PARIS: World leaders condemned fatal stabbings on Thursday (October 29) in the French city of Nice that France called an Islamist terrorist attack.
The condemnation came from the president of the United States, Donald Trump, the head of the UN, Antonio Guterres, as well as European, Arab and Israeli leaders.
“Our hearts go out to the people of France. America stands with our oldest ally in this fight,” Trump tweeted. “These radical Islamic terrorist attacks must stop immediately. No country, France or any other country, can withstand it for long!”
One of the first to condemn was Turkey, embroiled in a dispute with France for allowing the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that have unleashed a wave of attacks against the French people.
“We strongly condemn the attack committed today inside the church of Notre-Dame in Nice,” said a statement from the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
He expressed his solidarity with France and offered his condolences to the families of the three people killed in the attack.
“HATE TERROR ATTACK”“
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also condemned the attack, adding that “peace cannot be achieved with nasty provocation.”
READ: Attack on the church in Nice: what we know so far
In other parts of the Middle East, Arab and Islamic leaders drew a clear distinction between their religion and the violent acts that purported to defend it.
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said it “stands as a government and people with … France in the fight against this hateful incident.”
Qatar strongly condemned and reiterated its rejection of violence and terrorism, especially against places of worship and regardless of the motives.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed its condolences to the victim’s families.
Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri urged Muslims “to reject this criminal act that has nothing to do with Islam or the Prophet.”
EU SOLIDARITY
European Union leaders swiftly expressed their solidarity with France and vowed to confront “those who seek to incite and spread hatred.”
“I condemn the heinous and brutal attack that just took place in Nice and I stand with France with all my heart,” tweeted the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
“We will remain united and determined in the face of barbarism and fanaticism.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel was “deeply moved by the brutal killings” and said “my thoughts are with the families of those killed and injured. Germany supports France at this difficult time.”
People cry as they attend a commemoration for the victims killed during an attack on a church in the French city of Nice in front of the Brandenburg Gate near the French embassy in Berlin, Germany, on October 29, 2020 (AP Photo: / Markus Schreiber).
In a statement later issued by the head of the EU Council, Charles Michel, the 27 leaders expressed their solidarity with France, but did not refer to the controversy over the cartoons that mocked the prophet Muhammad.
“VILE ATTACK”
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte condemned a “cowardly attack” and said: “Our convictions are stronger than fanaticism, hatred and terror. We embrace the families of the victims and our French brothers. We are united!”
His Spanish counterpart, Pedro Sánchez, added: “We continue to defend freedom, our democratic values, peace and the security of our citizens.”
HIGHEST TONE OF HUNGARY
A harsher tone came from Hungary, where populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban wrote that the attack clearly demonstrated “that our culture, our way of life and our European values are being targeted by extremist terrorism.”
“We are ready to join forces to protect traditional European values and the traditional European way of life,” Orban added.
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Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who previously ruled with far-right ministers, called the Nice killings “a despicable Islamist terrorist attack.”
“We will defend our values and the European ‘way of life’ with all our might against Islamists and political Islam,” Kurz said.
INDIA, UNITED KINGDOM ‘SUPPORTS FRANCE’
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a Hindu nationalist, strongly condemned the “heinous attack in Nice”, adding that his country also “supports France in the fight against terrorism.”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was “shocked” by the “barbaric attack on the Notre-Dame basilica,” he tweeted in English and French.
“Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and the UK stands firm with France against terrorism and intolerance.”
‘SOWING DEATH’
Pope Francis prayed for the victims when the Vatican said that “terrorism and violence can never be accepted.”
“Today’s attack has sown death in a place of love and consolation,” said Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni.
READ: Attack in France: the church’s sacristan was slaughtered while preparing for mass
The pontiff urged people in France, a multicultural society, to “unite to fight evil with good.”
During talks with the Italian Foreign Minister, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin warned: “The attempt to foment war between religious is inconceivable.
“There is no war between Christianity and Islam, or between Judaism and Islam, and we must be sure that no one can make that happen.”
