Muslim World Condemns Attacks on U.S.

DUBAI, Sept 12, 2001 (IslamOnline & News Agencies)--The Muslim world expressed condemnation Wednesday towards the attacks that occurred Tuesday in the United States, news agencies reported.

The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) grouping 57 Muslim states condemned Wednesday the previous day's attacks on the United States, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

"We condemn these savage and criminal acts which are anathema to all human conventions and values and the monotheist religions, led by Islam," OIC secretary general Abdel Wahad Belkaziz said in a statement.

Renowned Muslim scholar Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi encouraged Muslims to donate blood to the victims of the attacks and said that helping the victims with blood and money is considered a charity.

In a special interview with IslamOnline, al-Qaradawi said that any sane Muslim who abides by Islamic laws would have never caused the incident. He added that acts of terrorism are a crime regardless of the nationality or religious backgrounds of the victims.

Qaradawi said that the U.S. bias towards Israel in the Palestinian conflict, while unjust, does not provide a basis for justification for terrorist attacks, adding that the battlefield is in fact in Palestine.

"If the United States uses double standards in its judgment, Islam refuses to do so. We do not hate the American people even if we disagree with the policies of their ruling government," he said.

Libyan leader Moamer Qadhafi condemned the "terrible" attacks and said his country was ready to send aid to the American people.

"Different policies and the conflicts with America shouldn't be a psychological obstacle to sending humanitarian aid to the American people and all people in America who were profoundly affected by these terrible attacks," Qadhafi said, suggesting blood donor offerings.

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami condemned what he said was the wave of "terrorist" attacks and expressed his "deep sorrow and sympathy with the American nation."

In Egypt, President Hosni Mubarak Tuesday condemned the "attacks" and "terrorism" that struck the United States and said he was "very sad" after hearing the news.

An official source in Syria said, "Damascus condemns the destructive sabotage attacks which targeted innocent civilians in the United States, which caused serious damage to property and essential installations."

Jordan added a similar condemnation: "The Jordanian government and its people express their feelings of sorrow and present their sincerest condolences to the American people, their government, President [George W.] Bush and the families of the innocent victims of terrorist attacks that violate all religious and humanitarian values."

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